ROUND TABLE ON PROTECTION OF MINORITIES HELD IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, March 21 (Hina) - The Croatian government's Office for National Minorities and the Council of Europe organised a round table on the implementation of the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities in Zagreb on Thursday. #L# Opening the event, Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic said the problems Croatia faced reflected on its minorities. Commenting on a conclusion from the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers' resolution of February 6 this year seeking better protection of minorities in the area of employment, Antunovic said Serbs and other minorities lived in war-affected areas. She said that economy and infrastructure in those areas were destroyed during the war, which was why they had a high unemployment rate. Antunovic said the constitutional law on national minorities was not adopted because it did not receive sufficient support in parliament. She added that it was expected that the new draft would pass parliamentary debate, which would also include minority representatives. Allan Phillips of the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention commended Croatia for having organised the round table which he said promoted the Framework Convention. Croatia signed this document in 1997. The round table was attended by representatives of parliament, the President's Office, ministries, and human rights associations. (hina) rml