PUBLICATION ON RIGHTS OF BURGENLAND CROATS PUBLISHED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - The political and cultural status of Burgenland Croats and their minority rights in Austria, bilingualism in Croatian schools and kindergartens and cultural- education cooperation with Croatia are the topics of a publication that was presented in Zagreb on Monday by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. #L# The publication entitled "Minority Rights of Burgenland Croats in the Republic of Austria", will be released as a bilingual Croatian- German publication and was presented by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and Croatian Ambassador to Vienna Drazen Vukov Colic. "The status of minorities must have a particular role in Croatia's foreign policy. We are trying to achieve European standards and protect minority rights," Picula said. He reminded that in the past ten years, Croatia had signed bilateral agreements on the protection of minorities with Hungary and Italy and similar arrangements were being discussed with Yugoslavia and Slovakia. Minister Picula said that Burgenland Croats' minority rights should be developed through "complete bilingual education, activities conducted by minority institutions and cross-border co- operation between Croatia and Austria". (hina) sb sp