ANTUNOVIC MEETS WITH OSCE COMMISSIONER FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES

ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) wants Croatia to overcome inharited problems and it wants to be Croatia's partner in solving problems regarding national minorities, Croatian vice Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic said after talks with OSCE commissioner for minorities Max van der Stoel. Personally, I am satisfied with expressed interest in our problems and OSCE's wish to not only cooperate in solving the problems, but to help us, with its advice, to overcome problems we inherited as a consequence of war and destruction, as well as problems of a normal reintegration in the democratic life which Croatia very much needs, Antunovic told reporters after the talks. When asked whether the talks tackled incidents such as a recent one in Veljun, Antunovic said no. A monument in Veljun erected in the memory of Serbs killed by Ustashi in 1941 was desecrated. Antunovic said she openly talked about how the Croatian Government planned to treat and sanction such or similar incidents, which were most probably to happen in the future, because there are always individuals who act destructively. She added such things are most likely to happen in the future, and said this was not the greatest problem. "A problem will occur if we fail to find the right answer to prevent such destructive activities, and show that Croatia needs headway, and not hatred and intolerance", Antunovic stressed. Ambassador Van der Stoel positively assessed the meeting with the vice Prime Minister, and added they tackled the return of Croats and Serbs to their homes and the position of minorities in Croatia. He told reporters Antunovic said Croatia tried to become a model country regarding laws for national minorities. (hina) it jn