NEW YORK, March 25 (Hina) - During Wednesday's session of the United Nations (UN) Commission for Population and Development, the head of the Croatian delegation, Alica Wertheimer Baletic, addressed the Commission. The UN commission is
expected to assess the five-year-long implementation of conclusions of the Cairo conference on population and development. Wertheimer Baletic informed this UN body of the situation in Croatia and measures the government is taking considering this issue. Croatia is among those countries that are concerned over a low rate in the growth of population, and this has impact on the long-term social, economic and overall development, she explained. The Croatian representative said that after having experienced demographic consequences of the long-standing emigration of working people from Croatia to European and overseas states, her country was exposed to the aggres
NEW YORK, March 25 (Hina) - During Wednesday's session of the United
Nations (UN) Commission for Population and Development, the head of
the Croatian delegation, Alica Wertheimer Baletic, addressed the
Commission.
The UN commission is expected to assess the five-year-long
implementation of conclusions of the Cairo conference on
population and development.
Wertheimer Baletic informed this UN body of the situation in
Croatia and measures the government is taking considering this
issue.
Croatia is among those countries that are concerned over a low rate
in the growth of population, and this has impact on the long-term
social, economic and overall development, she explained.
The Croatian representative said that after having experienced
demographic consequences of the long-standing emigration of
working people from Croatia to European and overseas states, her
country was exposed to the aggression at the beginning of this
decade.
The immediate consequences of the war are 16,000 killed people and
hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons.
Furthermore, Croatia becomes older. There are less people of all
ages. A decrease in the youth is 17 percent, while a drop of 12
percent has been recorded among the working population. Only a
climb of 28 percent has been registered among the elderly.
In order to response to such challenge, Croatia adopted a national
programme for demographic revival in January 1996, Wertheimer
Baletic added.
Speedier economic growth and better social care for everybody will
be decisive factors for the stabilisation and the demographic
development in Croatia. Besides, the population policy as a part of
the viable development will be more and more important, she said.
(hina) ms