CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES HIGH OSCE COMMISSIONER FOR MINORITIES

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic held talks with the High Commissioner for national minorities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Rolf Ekeus, in Zagreb on Friday. Ekeus stressed the purpose of his mandate was not only to prevent crises in relations between the majority and minority, but also to help reach a solution, the statement read. In this context, Ekeus showed interest in the process of passing a constitutional law on national minorities in Croatia, stressing Croatia was better positioned than other countries in the area, and greeting efforts Croatia was making in order to approach European associations. Mesic stressed minorities had to be a bridge of cooperation among countries, and not a means of attaching others' territories. Croatia's policy towards neighbours had changed in that regard, but it is also necessary that such policy be accepted by all neighbouring countries, Mesic added. He said it was very important to remove reasons for collective accusations and support individual rights, especially the right to return. Mesic stressed the constitutional law on national minorities should be drawn up in the spirit of positive European standards protecting minorities, the statement concluded. (hina) np sb