ZAGREB, July 19 (Hina) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister's statement that the results in the Croatian 2001 census regarding the number of ethnic Serbs were a consequence of the ethnic cleansing, is unacceptable for Croatia's Foreign
Ministry.
ZAGREB, July 19 (Hina) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister's statement that
the results in the Croatian 2001 census regarding the number of
ethnic Serbs were a consequence of the ethnic cleansing, is
unacceptable for Croatia's Foreign Ministry. #L#
The Croatian ministry on Friday reminded that such a statement of
the Yugoslav minister Goran Svilanovic was in contradiction with
his statement of 4 June 2002 when he said that a fall in the number of
Croatian Serbs was a consequence of the war and the victory of
Slobodan Milosevic's ideology under which Serbs cannot live with
other peoples.
Croatia most strongly refuses accusations about the ethnic
cleansing given that it is known that Zagreb has several times
called on its citizens of the Serb origin to return to Croatia and
that Croatia has created and is now creating conditions for the Serb
refugees' dignified return and life in the Croatian homeland.
For this purpose, Croatia is investing huge financial and economic
efforts and has also spent much energy in the development of good-
neighbourly relations with Yugoslavia, read a statement released
by the Croatian foreign ministry.
The ministry refuses the contents of the statement Svilanovic gave
on Thursday, and assesses that such words were not in accordance
with the situation in the bilateral cooperation and
understanding.
(hina) ms