ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - Croatia and Yugoslavia should sign an agreement on the protection of national minorities by the end of this year, said Rasim Ljajic, the Yugoslav minister for minority and ethnic communities.
ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - Croatia and Yugoslavia should sign an
agreement on the protection of national minorities by the end of
this year, said Rasim Ljajic, the Yugoslav minister for minority
and ethnic communities. #L#
Ljajic held talks with Furio Radin, the head of the Croatian
parliamentary committee on human rights and national minorities,
in Zagreb on Thursday.
Ljajic said the Yugoslav government expected a response from Zagreb
to a draft agreement drawn up by Belgrade within the following 15
days. After that, a Yugoslav delegation is expected to arrive in
Zagreb for the further harmonisation of views.
It is the interest of both Zagreb and Belgrade to develop good
relations to the benefit of the Croat minority in Yugoslavia and of
the Serb minority in Croatia, Ljajic and Radin agreed.
"The protection of minorities can develop our bilateral relations
but also help accelerate integration into the European Union,"
Radin said.
Ljajic told reporters that Belgrade had adopted a new law on
minorities, applauded by the international community.
(hina) ms