ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, on Monday signed an agreement on the technical cooperation between Croatia and the UN Human Rights Commission.
To sign this agreement is important because it can facilitate development of the culture of the protection of human rights in Croatia and because Croatia signed it individually, Granic said after the signing ceremony in Zagreb. This agreement will offer help of the advisory and educational nature. Through it we would like to separate the mandate of the UN human rights special rapporteur for three countries - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia - but it (separation) is a process, the Croatian minister said adding that these are "three different areas and that Croatia cannot be compared with Bosnia and Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro)". Granic str
ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic and
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, on Monday
signed an agreement on the technical cooperation between Croatia
and the UN Human Rights Commission.
To sign this agreement is important because it can facilitate
development of the culture of the protection of human rights in
Croatia and because Croatia signed it individually, Granic said
after the signing ceremony in Zagreb.
This agreement will offer help of the advisory and educational
nature. Through it we would like to separate the mandate of the UN
human rights special rapporteur for three countries - Croatia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia - but it (separation) is a
process, the Croatian minister said adding that these are "three
different areas and that Croatia cannot be compared with Bosnia and
Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro)".
Granic stressed that the act of signing the agreement which obliges
only Croatia, presented a significant step forward.
This agreement will enable a significant technical assistance in
the education of civil servants, Granic said adding that the UN will
finance the programme.
Mary Robinson voiced satisfaction with today's signing adding that
this agreement was an important stage in the development of Croatia
and the building of the culture of human rights.
Today's signing of agreements confirms the constructive
relationship we have developed in understanding and promotion of
the culture of human rights in Croatia by strengthening not only the
values of civil and political rights but also of economic, social
and cultural rights, the UN Commissioner said.
According to her, the treaty will give support to initiatives of the
Croatian Government and obligations of the civil society.
Granic expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with both Mary
Robinson and the UN Commission adding that his country would
continue promoting the cooperation with the Commission, since it is
in Croatia's interest and is very important for its credibility.
According to Granic, they also discussed the return of refugees to
Croatia and the cooperation with the International War Crimes
Tribunal (ICTY).
Granic informed Robinson that about 50,000 Serbs had come back to
Croatia on the grounds of the return programme.
The UN official conveyed some concern about certain local problems,
and Granic responded that there was a level of the political will
for a solution of such problems and that they would be settled as
they were going along.
We talked about Kosovo, Granic said adding that he informed
Robinson that Croatia had received five to six thousand Kosovo
refugees since the beginning of clashes in Yugoslavia last year and
that his country was ready to offer shelter for another 5,000
Kosovans.
Granic and Robinson discussed the protection of journalists, and
particularly the case of the Croatian weekly Globus' reporter,
Antun Masle, who is being at prison in Montenegro. Robinson
promised that she would try to work on Masle's release, the Croatian
minister added.
(hina) ms