ANTUNOVIC: SDP IS NOT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SERBS

ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - A vice-president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Vice-Premier, Zeljka Antunovic, has dismissed media claims that the SDP is continuing the discriminatory policy of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) towards Serb returnees and worsening relations with international institutions. Antunovic told reporters on Saturday attacks on her party started after her statement that the institute of tenancy rights should be separated from the right to property restitution. I have never linked tenancy rights with nationality, Antunovic said. Serbs were not the only ones to lose the right to purchase socially-owned flats, tenants in confiscated and private flats have lost that right as well, she said. Some international organisations, particularly those gathering Croatian Serb refugees, have been requesting that Croatia return tenancy rights - an institute from the period of socialism, which does not exist in the Croatian judiciary as such, she said. She added the institute had been replaced with the institute of lease, which fully protects the right to tenancy. The SDP is determined not to reopen the issue of tenancy rights but see that accommodation is regulated with the institute of lease, she said. The cancellation of tenancy rights and the introduction of lease is entirely in line with democratic standards; that may not be the fairest solution, but it cannot be described as discriminatory on the ethnic basis either, she said. Only returnees to the areas of special state concern have the right to purchase socially-owned flats under more favourable conditions, and they will be able to do so after having lived ten years in those flats, Antunovic said. That is the only possible, non- discriminatory and completely fair policy, she said, adding any other promises were "pure political demagogy" which tax payers could not afford. She asserted one could speak about a discriminatory practice (forcible entering of other people's flats, unlawful court rulings which were later quashed etc.) in the past ten years, but one could not speak about discriminatory laws. In removing the consequences of previous failures Croatia could even have problems, she said. The theory that the SDP is continuing HDZ's policy towards property restitution is malicious, she said. The SDP has a good cooperation with national minorities as well as with international organisations, and lessened pressures by the international community on the country bear witness to that, she said. (hina) sb rml