GOVT DISCUSSES STATE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CRO

ZAGREB, Mar 4 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday discussed a report on the respect of human rights in Croatia in 1998 drawn up by the U.S. Department of State. The report contains a series of unfounded claims and biased assessments, the government concluded, adding the report can hardly be taken as the right basis for a reasoned discussion and cooperation aimed at raising the level of human rights protection in Croatia. The government today drafted a report containing data submitted by all relevant ministries and bodies of state authority. The report will be submitted to the U.S. ambassador to Croatia through diplomatic routes. Speaking about the U.S. report, Croatian Deputy Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said the Croatian authorities' endeavours and achievements were considerably less acknowledged than in the latest reports by some international associations. "All positive steps the Croatian authorities have made have mainly been overlooked or relativised immediately after being mentioned," Mintas-Hodak said. She pointed out the Croatian government did not deny certain difficulties and shortcomings in the compliance with human rights, but added Croatia, on the basis of partner relations, was fully willing to cooperate with the international community and certain governments, especially the U.S. government, in eliminating possible problems. Foreign Minister Mate Granic agreed in assessing the U.S. State Department's report as "incorrect, factually unbalanced" and "containing nothing about the path Croatia is going through." There are more international observers in Croatia than in any other European country, he said, adding this meant Croatia was fully transparent. Croatia will resolve all open issues through dialogue, Granic said, but pointed out this dialogue must rely on facts. The U.S. State Department's report is "a U.S. political message to Croatia", the Foreign Minister concluded. (hina) ha mm