ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Croatia last week forwarded to Croatia's newly elected government a non-paper describing in detail the factual situation, outlining
problems, and suggesting models for their resolution. The document reminds Premier Ivica Racan and associates of familiar issues, primarily the situation in the media, especially the Croatian Radio-Television issue, the unsatisfying Law on Telecommunications, and the press distribution issue which endangers independent papers. Second in importance is the return of Serb refugees and displaced persons, human rights endangered by discriminatory legislative regulations, integration of war-ravaged areas, cooperation with The Hague war crimes tribunal, and the enforcement of the Amnesty Law. The non-paper brings nothing new or sensational, but the fact that the OSCE Mission forwarded i
ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Croatia last week forwarded
to Croatia's newly elected government a non-paper describing in
detail the factual situation, outlining problems, and suggesting
models for their resolution.
The document reminds Premier Ivica Racan and associates of familiar
issues, primarily the situation in the media, especially the
Croatian Radio-Television issue, the unsatisfying Law on
Telecommunications, and the press distribution issue which
endangers independent papers.
Second in importance is the return of Serb refugees and displaced
persons, human rights endangered by discriminatory legislative
regulations, integration of war-ravaged areas, cooperation with
The Hague war crimes tribunal, and the enforcement of the Amnesty
Law.
The non-paper brings nothing new or sensational, but the fact that
the OSCE Mission forwarded it in the new government's first week in
function shows how much importance the international community
ascribes to the settlement of those issues.
A source close to the Croatian government did not want to confirm
the existence of the non-paper, but said the propositions were
known. The government has still not taken a position regarding
concrete steps, even though the premier and other officials
announced in their public statements all issues would be resolved.
"At this moment (government officials) are dealing with more
important issues, and (the above mentioned) issues have not yet
been debated," the same source told Hina on Friday.
The government will tackle the resolution of the issues very soon,
and some can be settled in a relatively short period of time, such as
the discriminatory regulations of some laws, and improved
integration of war-ravaged areas, the source said.
According to the source, many things were initiated with the past
government, but implementation had been prevented by some high-
ranking state officials.
"If the new government shows more political willingness to listen,
and there is no reason to believe otherwise, we may be able to see
the results of launched projects in the nearest future," the
sources close to the government said.
The return of displaced persons and refugees is not at all
contentious, he said, reminding a certain level of agreement had
already been reached with local Serb officials regarding
priorities in the reconstruction of war-damaged houses.
Wherever it is possible to ensure alternate accommodation to
persons occupying someone's house, the owner must be enable to
return at once, the source said, adding international assistance
would be necessary for a more substantial reconstruction of houses
in Croatia.
(hina)