SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL ON STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CROATIA

ZAGREB, Mar 9 (Hina) - The Serb National Council (SNV) in Croatia on Tuesday assessed a recent U.S. State Department report on the respect of human rights in Croatia as a friendly message for and assistance in seeking solutions and recognising problems in the respect of human and minority rights. "We welcome the concern of the United States for the position of national minorities and the state of human rights in Croatia," SNV president Milorad Pupovac told reporters in Zagreb. He said, "(...) with all the distance still extant between the Croat people and Serbs in Croatia, the SNV is not giving up on resolving extant problems with all relevant Croatian institutions, in particular problems regarding the return of refugees and property." He added a recent SNV Presidency session debated the Serb community's overall position in Croatia and ways in which the SNV would more successfully deal with the Serb community's problems and open issues in 1999. Pupovac announced the SNV would soon notify the Croatian government and political parties about its view of the Serbs' position in Croatia. Speaking about a visit Serb Orthodox Church patriarch Paul should make to Croatia on March 15 and 16, Pupovac said, "We expect the historical visit will help strengthen and restore the ecumenical spirit and trust between the two Churches and the two peoples." The SNV also announced drafting bills concerning the position of minorities in Croatia. (hina) ha rml