ZAGREB, Dec 19 (Hina) - Serb minority representative Milorad Pupovac on Friday presented an agreement on cooperation between the new government and his Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), which three party representatives signed
yesterday with the premier-designate and leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Ivo Sanader.
ZAGREB, Dec 19 (Hina) - Serb minority representative Milorad Pupovac on
Friday presented an agreement on cooperation between the new
government and his Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), which
three party representatives signed yesterday with the
premier-designate and leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
Ivo Sanader.#L#
The agreement covers eight areas -- human dignity and civic equality
for all citizens, refugee returns, application of the constitutional
law on ethnic minorities' rights, restitution of the Serb community's
property, development of formerly war-struck areas, reform of the
justice system, Croatia's admission to the European Union, and
cooperation with neighbouring countries.
Pupovac stressed the importance of the return of refugees and
restitution of property, compensation for destroyed property, and
resolving the issue of former tenancy rights holders who left the
country.
The agreement stipulates that the restitution of privately-owned
houses or flats which are being used unlawfully must be finalised by
the end of June 2004, while the rest of the occupied property must be
returned by the end of 2004. The document also says that requests for
the reconstruction of damaged property should be filed by 30 June
2004.
Under certain terms, tenancy rights holders will have their flats back
or be enabled to gain protected tenant status with the possibility of
buying the flat.
Pupovac also spoke of nationalised property. He said the property of
the Serb Orthodox Church would be returned, but added that the
property of institutions such as the Prosvjeta cultural society should
be returned as well.
The agreement also stipulates that representatives of the Serb
community will be appointed to ministries and executive bodies, and
will be given several assistant ministerial posts.
According to Pupovac, the agreement says the incoming government and
the SDSS are agreed as to the need of reforming the justice system and
expediting war crimes proceedings and of individualising guilt,
including that for war crimes.
The agreement is a component of the government's programme and does
not constitute a coalition agreement, Pupovac stressed.
Asked if there was something the SDSS and the HDZ had not agreed on,
Pupovac mentioned double voting rights and the establishment of a fund
for areas of special government interest. He added, however, that a
compromise was found for the latter through a special budgetary item.
(Hina) ha sb