PRESIDENT MESIC MEETS REPS OF PARLIAMENTARY MINORITY BENCH

ZAGREB, March 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Friday met with representatives of the parliament's minority bench at their request to discuss the minorities' right to information and the need for adopting a constitutional law on minority rights as soon as possible. #L# The President's advisor on internal affairs, Igor Dekanic, said the meeting was part of regular consultations, which are held once or twice a year. Dekanic said that the President supported the deputies' request that the law be included in the parliamentary agenda as soon as possible. The minority bench whip and president of the Serb People's Party (SNS), Milan Djukic, said the meeting was very useful. It is important for the government to fulfil its international commitment to adopt laws regulating minority rights, he said. The minority MPs have sent a request for a meeting with government officials as well. The chairman of the parliament Committee on Human Rights and Italian minority representative, Furio Radin, says it is scandalous that the adoption of the minority law was postponed a number of times over the past two years and reminds that the international community has been expecting Croatia to adopt such a law for seven years. Minority representatives expect to be included in the drawing up of the law, he said. (hina) rml