SUBOTICA: MINORITY CROATS NOT AFRAID OF RADICALS' ELECTION SUCCESS

SUBOTICA, Nov 17 (Hina) - The Croat minority in Vojvodina does not believe that the success of Serb Radical Party candidate Tomislav Nikolic in Sunday's failed elections for Serbian president will have a negative impact on the status of Croats in Serbia and Montenegro, although it considers the election result a defeat, senior officials of two main associations of the Croat minority in the neighbouring country said on Monday. #L# "The Croat minority should not be concerned about its status because this election result does not mean that the Radicals will fare well in the upcoming parliamentary elections," said the temporary president of the Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Croats, Petar Kuntic. Kuntic said this was evidenced by an additional local election held in some municipalities in central Serbia, at which the ruling DOS coalition won most of the votes. "One shouldn't be afraid, but the strength of the Radicals and their voters must not be underestimated," Kuntic said. The chairman of the executive committee of the Croat People's Council, Lazo Vojnic Hajduk, said that Croats in Serbia and Montenegro should not be afraid of the Radicals' victory, but he voiced concern that "this may slow down the process of exercising of minority rights". Vojvodina Croat parties and associations called on the Croat community to vote for the candidate of the ruling DOS coalition, Dragoljub Micunovic. (hina) rml sb