CROATIA MUST DO MUCH MORE TOWARDS DEMOCRACY - UN RAPPORTEUR

OSIJEK, Feb 15 (Hina) - The United Nations special rapporteur for human rights on the territory of the former Yugoslav federation on Monday visited the eastern Croatian town of Osijek where he expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the two-way refugee return, human rights, freedom of the media, and democracy in general in Croatia. The only way out is the creation of a civil society, special rapporteur Jiri Dienstbier told reporters after talks with Osijek Mayor Zlatko Kramaric and the head of the local office for refugees and displaced persons, Nada Arbanas. Dienstbier said the preconditions for a civil society are reconciliation and the establishment of trust. He added a high degree of hatred could be detected at present. Asked if he believed Croats and Serbs were equal before the law, Dienstbier pointed to the existence of claims and evidence that members of the Serb national minority did not enjoy equal rights. He said he discussed the matter with the Croatian President and senior authority officials who, he added, had pointed out that Croatian authorities were unable to fully control authorities on local level. Dienstbier believes that if Croatia indeed wants assistance from the international community and to become a member of European integration, it must issue clear instructions to local authorities. He pointed out private ownership must be guaranteed, and added the government was responsible in the eyes of the world. The special rapporteur advocated general amnesty, but said that the criminals on all sides must be punished because, he added, debates on who was responsible would last long. He assessed the biggest problem was the Croats' return to the Bosnian Serb entity. (hina) ha jn