ZAGREB, Sept 26 (Hina) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Friday decided to abolish so-called post-monitoring dialogue with Croatia, according to a statement from the Croatian parliament.
ZAGREB, Sept 26 (Hina) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe on Friday decided to abolish so-called post-monitoring
dialogue with Croatia, according to a statement from the Croatian
parliament. #L#
The decision followed a positive report and recommendation
prepared by the president of the CoE Monitoring Committee, Josette
Durrieu, which was later endorsed by the Monitoring Committee at
its session in Paris on September 10 this year, a statement said.
The decision to abolish post-monitoring dialogue recognises the
progress Croatia has made in fulfilling numerous obligations that
the country took on when it was admitted to the CoE. The CoE
Parliamentary Assembly stopped monitoring Croatia in September
2000.
The decision to abolish post-monitoring dialogue confirms the high
level of development in democracy, the rule of law and human rights
protection in Croatia -- fundamental values which form the basis of
the CoE's activities as one of Europe's oldest democratic
institutions. The CoE brings together 45 member countries, the
statement said.
Keeping in mind that the conditions monitored by the Committee
included political conditions and full co-operation with the Hague
Tribunal, refugee returns, reforms in the judiciary and freedom of
the press, it is obvious that this decision signifies an important
political signal by the CoE not only to Croatia but other
international bodies, at the same time encouraging Croatia to
continue in its efforts to achieve its strategic objectives --
membership of the EU, the statement concluded.
The session of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg is
being attended by a Croatian delegation headed by MP Mirjana Feric-
Vac.
(Hina) sp