HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATION VISITS CROATIA

ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - A high ranking delegation of the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations arrived in Croatia on Monday, where they will meet with the highest Croatian officials to discuss human rights, minority rights, freedom of the press, democratisation of society and the electoral system in Croatia. The delegation, which arrived in Croatia at the invitation of the OSCE mission to Croatia, consists of a representative of the OSCE's chairman, Ar Jostein Nordheim, OSCE high commissioner for national minorities Max van der Stoel, UN special envoy for human rights for countries of the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier, political principle of the Council of Europe Hans Peter Furrer, principle of the OSCE office for democratic institutions and human rights Gerard Stoudmann and the principle of the OSCE office for freedom of the press Freimut Duve. During the visit, the delegation will act as a whole unit while at the same time individual members will conduct separate programmes and meetings in their own right. It is expected that the delegation will be received by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Tuesday after which the delegation will meet with members of the Croatian government headed by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa. In January the president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Helle Degn visited Croatia. Following the current visit it is expected that chairman of the OSCE, Norway's Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek will visit Croatia in March. (hina) ha mm