ZAGREB, Feb 29 (Hina) - The Serb Democratic Forum (SDF) believes that if they would like to show Croatia as a democratic country where all citizens enjoy equal rights, new Croatian authorities must change laws which, according to the
SDF, have been discriminatory against Serbs who want to return to Croatia. The SDF described those laws and acts as an obstacle in the process of return of refugees. The head of the SDF branch in Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), Petar Ladjevic, told a news conference in Zagreb on Tuesday that it was very important to change 18 laws, acts and by-laws to enable a large number of refugees to come home as soon as possible. He also suggested amendments to the law on reconstruction and a partial change of the Croatian citizenship law. Ladjevic was in favour of legal regulating of the restitution of private property. "It is necessary to settle the problem of former
ZAGREB, Feb 29 (Hina) - The Serb Democratic Forum (SDF) believes
that if they would like to show Croatia as a democratic country
where all citizens enjoy equal rights, new Croatian authorities
must change laws which, according to the SDF, have been
discriminatory against Serbs who want to return to Croatia.
The SDF described those laws and acts as an obstacle in the process
of return of refugees.
The head of the SDF branch in Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), Petar
Ladjevic, told a news conference in Zagreb on Tuesday that it was
very important to change 18 laws, acts and by-laws to enable a large
number of refugees to come home as soon as possible.
He also suggested amendments to the law on reconstruction and a
partial change of the Croatian citizenship law.
Ladjevic was in favour of legal regulating of the restitution of
private property.
"It is necessary to settle the problem of former tenants, change or
pass a new law on areas of the special state care, ensure equal
rights to all citizens for damages after they suffer losses caused
by terrorist attacks, and ensure equal rights for pension and
disability insurance, Ladjevic told reporters.
He also complained about the inefficiency of the amnesty law,
claiming that persons covered by that law are awaiting too long
decisions, if they get it at all.
Ladjevic added that the SDF urged the renewal of court proceedings
against some 70 Serbs who are serving prison sentences in Croatia
for war crimes, claiming that many proceedings were led in their
absentia and on the grounds of oral accusations.
SDF leader Veljko Dzakula said new officials in Croatia had given
encouraging statements concerning the return but he expected from
them to make legislative changes soon. He offered help to Croatian
President, Government and Sabor in settlement of those problems.
(hina) mm ms