GOVT: CHECK-UP OF PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORD FOR RETURNEES FROM YUGOSLAVIA ONLY AT THEIR REQUEST

ZAGREB, Sept 14 (Hina) - At the closed part of Thursday's session, the Croatian government decided that the Justice Ministry should check data on previous criminal records and possible court proceedings against returnees from Yugoslavia and Bosnia- Herzegovina only at the returnees' explicit request. A statement by the Government's public relations office said persons wishing to return from Yugoslavia to Croatia would submit return requests and the Justice Ministry would check up data on their previous criminal records at the request of the Administration for Displaced Persons, Returnees and Refugees. In cooperation with county and municipal courts, it would provide data on possible criminal proceedings against returnees and the application of the Amnesty Law. These data were then forwarded to the UNHCR and the Administration for Displaced Person. The entire procedure was conducted at the request of the UNHCR and its purpose was the implementation of the government's programme of return and accommodation of returnees, refugees and displaced persons. Since the current procedure is not in line with the regulations of the Penal Code, the government decided that check-ups would be carried out only at the explicit personal request of returnees. The government also forwarded its opinion to the Constitutional Court saying it should not accept proposals regarding the assessment of compliance with the Constitution of the Law on the Procedure of Take-Over of Joint Stock Companies and the Law on Payment Transactions. It also suggested that the Court extend the deadline for the cessation of validity of the Law on Building Societies until December 31, 2000. The government today also appointed new Croat members to a joint Croatian-Bosnia-Herzegovina commission for implementing an Agreement on the Establishment of Border Crossings between the two countries. (hina) rml