OSCE MISSION STAYS IN CROATIA

VIENNA, Nov 22 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) mission is staying in Croatia, mission head Bernard Poncet told journalists in Vienna Thursday, after submitting a report on Croatia to the OSCE Permanent Council. Croatia has made big progress and positive steps in fulfilling its international obligations, but it still has much to do regarding the return of refugees, restitution of property, rebuilding of houses, and tenancy rights, which obstruct refugee returns, Poncet said. Headway has been made in the judiciary, with the adoption of new laws or the enforcement of existing ones, in cooperating with the Hague war crimes tribunal, and in police reform, Poncet said. He added the OSCE Permanent Council would decide how long the Mission would stay in Croatia. Croatian Ambassador at the OSCE Mario Nobilo said the reactions of the Permanent Council's members to the report on Croatia were positive and good. In Croatia the mission has to adjust to the new circumstances, Nobilo said. The financial resources invested in the mission need to be directed towards democratisation and projects concerning the return of refugees, and the support to non-government organisations which will work even after the mission's departure from Croatia. Following the government's instruction, we asked for a short mandate of six months to be able to refocus, at its end, and see what has to be done by the end of 2002, Nobilo said. He expressed satisfaction that the OSCE Permanent Council supported the suggestions made by the Croatian delegation. (hina) np sb