COMMITTEE PRESENTS AWARDS FOR PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human Rights (HHO) on Monday presented its traditional awards for outstanding achievement in the promotion of human rights in Croatia in 2001. The "Miko Tripalo" award went to lawyer and deputy ombudsman Marta Vidakovic, while Davorka Blazevic, a journalist with the Slobodna Dalmacija daily, received the "Josko Kulusic" award for the promotion of human rights in the media. In his address, HHO president Zarko Puhovski said it was difficult to speak of a major progress in Croatia as the basic conditions for the adoption of international standards in the protection of human rights had not been met yet. "The HHO is doing what the Croatian authorities and government should be but are not doing. It is not up to us to punish and point out the culprits, but we have to warn that society cannot be good and healthy in this atmosphere," said Puhovski. The award ceremony was attended, among others, by the presidential adviser on internal affairs, Igor Dekanic, ombudsman Ante Klaric, police head Ranko Ostojic, Constitutional Court judge Jasna Omejec, and other prominent officials and public dignitaries. (hina) ha sb