ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - The head of the OSCE mission to Croatia, Peter Semneby, has welcomed the statement of Ivo Sanader, the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), who recently called on all Serb refugees to return to
Croatia.
ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - The head of the OSCE mission to Croatia,
Peter Semneby, has welcomed the statement of Ivo Sanader, the
leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), who recently called
on all Serb refugees to return to Croatia. #L#
"I am pleased that both the Government and the opposition have now
made a clear commitment to the return of refugees, and to ensure
their rights," Ambassador Semneby was quoted on the OSCE mission's
web site as saying on Friday.
In an interview he gave to the France-Presse (AFP) agency this week,
the president of the strongest Croatian opposition party invited
all refugees to come back.
"I call on all Serb refugees to return to Croatia. We shall
guarantee them all the rights, including ownership rights," the HDZ
chief said in the interview, the full text of which will be released
next week.
"The OSCE Mission to Croatia and its international partners have
long urged the Government and all political forces in Croatia to
make a strong public commitment to refugee return," the OSCE
mission reported.
"The Mission has recently urged the Government to increase its
support for out-of-country refugee voters during forthcoming
parliamentary elections by opening additional polling stations in
Serbia and Montenegro and simplifying registration procedures," it
added.
The AFP agency recalls that the HDZ party had changed its position
towards ethnic Serbs, who fled the country during the war in Croatia
(between 1991 and 1995), as well as towards Belgrade, in the current
period when the party is preparing itself for a comeback to power
after the parliamentary ballot, set for 23 November.
In the interview, Sanader said he was in favour of speedy and full
normalisation of the relations between his country and Serbia.
The HDZ leader added that Croatia's entry into the EU would be in the
interest of its neighbour Serbia, too.
"Croatia's speedy integration into the European Union would mean
that Serbia could fast join the Union," Sanader told the AFP.
The AFP assesses that the relations between Zagreb and Belgrade
have improved since the coalition authorities, which AFP describes
as a "pro-European reformist left coalition," came to power in
Croatia. The agency recalls that the presidents of Croatia and
Serbia-Montenegro extended mutual apologies on 10 September this
year.
The agency commented that after having been in power for ten years,
the HDZ lost the 2000 parliamentary election and became an
opposition party. Since then the HDZ has been building its image as
a pro-European party and distanced itself from the autocratic
policy of the former leader, the late president Franjo Tudjman, the
agency said.
It added that there was a slight margin in popularity of the HDZ and
ruling left-wing parties in the electoral race.
(hina) ms