WASHINGTON, March 4 (Hina) - The US State Department has released sharply different assessments of the respect for human rights in former Yugoslav countries. Slovenia was rated almost excellent, while Macedonia was rated insufficient.
Only 14 pages of the report were dedicated to Slovenia. The assessment reads that the authorities have respected human rights of their citizens. The report says that laws, the judiciary and ombudsmen efficiently help in individual cases of the violation of human rights. The report on human rights in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is divided into three parts, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. The general assessment is that the situation has significantly improved since the Milosevic regime. The State Department acknowledged that the Serbian authorities had extradited Slobodan Milosevic to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague (ICTY) and provided access to certain documents.
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Hina) - The US State Department has released
sharply different assessments of the respect for human rights in
former Yugoslav countries. Slovenia was rated almost excellent,
while Macedonia was rated insufficient.
Only 14 pages of the report were dedicated to Slovenia. The
assessment reads that the authorities have respected human rights
of their citizens. The report says that laws, the judiciary and
ombudsmen efficiently help in individual cases of the violation of
human rights.
The report on human rights in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is
divided into three parts, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. The
general assessment is that the situation has significantly
improved since the Milosevic regime.
The State Department acknowledged that the Serbian authorities had
extradited Slobodan Milosevic to the war crimes tribunal in The
Hague (ICTY) and provided access to certain documents. It noted,
however, that the Serbian authorities still occasionally turn a
deaf ear to ICTY's requests that they arrest indicted persons and
forward additional documents.
Bosnia-Herzegovina received a poor assessment of the state of human
rights. The level of the respect of human rights significantly
varies in Bosniak, Croat and Serb populated areas, the report says.
Religious discrimination remains a problem, it says, as well as
harsh discrimination against minorities in the areas mostly
populated by Serbs and Croats. Discrimination also exists in
Bosniak populated areas, particularly against refugees and
displaced persons, the report reads.
Cooperation with the ICTY, the protection of women and children and
freedom of the press have not as yet reached a satisfactory level,
the State Department says.
Macedonia received the poorest assessment. According to the
report, the government's attitude towards human rights
significantly worsened during the rebellion of ethnic Albanians.
The report also mentions illegal arrests, police violence, the
limitation of press freedom and discrimination against
minorities.
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