VIENNA, June 7 (Hina) - The permanent council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today supported a five-year report on Croatia submitted by the OSCE Mission head in Croatia, Bernard Poncet.
VIENNA, June 7 (Hina) - The permanent council of the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today supported a
five-year report on Croatia submitted by the OSCE Mission head in
Croatia, Bernard Poncet. #L#
OSCE Presidency, European Union and United States delegations as
well as delegations from other countries and organisations gave the
report their full support.
The report accentuates that Croatia has made significant progress,
but also warns that a lot more needs to be done.
After the permanent council session, Ambassador Poncet told
reporters the international community will continue to supervise
the implementation of commitments Croatia has assumed, especially
regarding issues relating to the return of refugees and displaced
persons.
He assessed it was important to solve issues such as the restitution
of property, tenants' rights, reconstruction of homes and official
document adjustment.
A solution must be found for issuing working permits for all
Croatian citizens, notwithstanding their nationality.
Poncet added he held the report was also a message of encouragement
to the Croatian government for its progress in fulfilling
international obligations.
Poncet refused to comment on why the OSCE Mission to Croatia still
had 120 members, while other countries in the region had a lot less.
he did say, however, the permanent council chairman suggested the
mission decrease to 100 members, because the achieved progress
should be taken into consideration.
Asked about how long the OSCE would remain in Croatia, Poncet
refused to give out any assessments, but said everything depends on
the extent the Croatian government will be fulfilling its
commitments.
There are a lot of problems in the field, and property cannot be
given back to people who have returned to Croatia as it was handed to
the needy, Poncet said. He added that in relations to other states
in the region, Croatia has the preconditions for becoming a
positive example and good role model.
Croatia's Ambassador at the OSCE in Vienna, Mario Nobilo, said the
permanent council decided on a 16.5 percent decrease in OSCE
Mission staff in Croatia as of July 1.
He added most of the speakers today supported the Croatian stance
that now attention must be paid to concrete projects of assistance
to refugees and displaced persons, to the strengthening of non-
government organisations and assistance to government
institutions in fulfilling the remaining commitments.
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