CROATIA WAS AN ABNORMAL COUNTRY FOR TEN YEARS -- DINSTBIER

ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - In the past ten years Croatia was an abnormal country, but we hope that it has now definitely chosen democracy and the promotion of human rights, becoming a normal European country, special rapporteur for the UN Commission for Human Rights for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia, Jiri Dienstbier, said in Zagreb on Friday. He expressed conviction Croatia was now beginning its voyage into the European Union. The feeling for democracy is very strong in Croatian society, which was proved by the past elections. Expressing satisfaction that political changes have occurred in Croatia, Dienstbier said that considering the outcome of elections, the new Government had a strong mandate to initiate crucial changes and must not pass up this moment. The Government must show signs that Croatia is becoming a normal European country as soon as possible, he said. According to him, it is clear this would not be easy because it was not easy in any post-communist country. There are certain areas in which positive signs can start being emitted immediately, he said. He said this would be issues of freedom of the media, rescinding discriminatory provisions from certain laws, strengthening cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), removing administrative obstacles for the return of refugees and the basic issue of ownership. Dienstbier said he would visit Croatia in March so he could draw up an appendix to a report he had submitted to the UN Commission in December, underlining that the situation in the country had changed. I must draw up a completely different report, he said, adding he would be very happy if he could report to the Commission about real changes which happened. (hina) lml