VIENNA/ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - The Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna on Thursday supported a biannual report on Croatia's progress in fulfilling international obligations,
said the OSCE Mission Office in Zagreb.
VIENNA/ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - The Permanent Council of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in
Vienna on Thursday supported a biannual report on Croatia's
progress in fulfilling international obligations, said the OSCE
Mission Office in Zagreb. #L#
The report was endorsed by all members, from this year's chair,
Portugal, to the EU, USA and other delegations.
The Council hailed the improved dialogue between the Croatian
government and the OSCE Mission to Croatia regarding issues
concerning the OSCE mandate, said the current Chairman of the
Permanent Council, Portuguese Ambassador Joao de Lima Pimentel.
He called for the further strengthening of the dialogue.
The OSCE commended the Croatian government and called on it to exert
additional efforts in areas marked in the report, including the
creation of an atmosphere stimulating refugee returns and regional
cooperation on the issue, as well as the strengthening of the rule
of law, reform of the justice system, and a more active role of
minorities in society.
The report on Croatia was submitted by the OSCE Mission Chief in
Croatia, Peter Semneby.
The headway achieved promises further cooperation in the
resolution of issues and fulfilment of international obligations,
Semneby told reporters after the session.
He added that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between
Croatia and the EU had contributed to improving the working
conditions of the OSCE Mission in Croatia.
Croatia's Ambassador to the OSCE, United Nations and international
organisations in Vienna, Mario Nobilo, said that "the six-month
progress in cooperation between Croatia and the OSCE was reviewed
in a very positive atmosphere".
Nobilo believes that the time has come for Croatia to focus on true
assistance in overcoming the remaining problems, instead of on the
political aspects of the OSCE's presence in the country.
Nobilo said Croatia wanted new quality in the work of the OSCE in
Croatia, and not for the organisation to be seen as the main
mechanism in assessing Croatia's rapprochement with the EU and
NATO.
(hina) lml sb