STATE DEPARTMENT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CROATIA

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Hina) - The Government in Croatia imposes no formal restrictions on religious groups and they are free to conduct public services and open and run social and charitable institutions, says, among else, the State Department Religious Freedom Report for 2001, released on October 26. The Croatian authorities are contributing to freedom of belief, reads the report conveying the stand of representatives of minority communities that the situation has generally improved since the elections in January 2000. "While the new Government has expressed interest in eliminating religious discrimination, its approach is ad hoc, treating problems as they arise and addressing specific issues... rather than setting uniform nondiscriminatory standards and practices." "... conservative elements within the Catholic hierarchy in the country have shown increasing dissatisfaction with the policies of the new coalition Government," as well as with Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic, reads the report. In the past 10 years, religious buildings were frequently the target of violence, and such incidents continue to occur, particularly in the eastern Danubian region, where there are frequent reports about the vandalising of Serb Orthodox buildings and cemeteries, says the report. The State Department has also noted that the coalition government is drawing up a new law on religious communities, and that representatives of the religious communities are included in the process. (hina) rml