WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Hina) - The announcement that the election will be held in Croatia immediately ahead of Christmas is an open attempt to manipulate the mood of citizens and influence th turnout of voters, said a Republican deputy
to the U.S. Congress, Christopher Smith, who chairs the Congress commission for the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe). According to a special statement Smith submitted at a session of the House of Representatives, this Congressman reminded that there was still no election law which might ensure a free and fair voting. He raised objections to the number of deputies elected by Croatia's citizens who live abroad and to the clout which the ruling party wields on the media. The statement entitled 'When Will Croatia Become a Democratic Country?', read that the transformation encounters the resistance of those who entrenched themselves in and became rich thanks to t
WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Hina) - The announcement that the election will
be held in Croatia immediately ahead of Christmas is an open attempt
to manipulate the mood of citizens and influence th turnout of
voters, said a Republican deputy to the U.S. Congress, Christopher
Smith, who chairs the Congress commission for the OSCE
(Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
According to a special statement Smith submitted at a session of the
House of Representatives, this Congressman reminded that there was
still no election law which might ensure a free and fair voting.
He raised objections to the number of deputies elected by Croatia's
citizens who live abroad and to the clout which the ruling party
wields on the media.
The statement entitled 'When Will Croatia Become a Democratic
Country?', read that the transformation encounters the resistance
of those who entrenched themselves in and became rich thanks to the
power they hold.
Smith also recalled that Croatia had come out of the war just four
years ago. He maintained, therefore, that the feeling should not be
lessened of the Croatian people that it came out of the war as a
victim, and reiterated that Croatia offered shelter to a great
number of Bosnian Croat refugees who cannot return to their homes in
the Bosnian Serb entity.
Smith criticised insufficient assistance which Croatia offers to
the Hague-based international war crimes Tribunal (ICTY). In this
context, the Congressman referred to a recent statement by Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman that Croatian General cannot be
responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Tudjman's resistance to the cooperation with the ICTY is highly
reprehensible. In case it keeps happening, the Congress should
strongly respond, Smith stated.
He added that Croatia must have an election which will be free and
fair from the run-up to the counting of votes.
Smith also warned that Croatia's Serbs should cease being second-
class citizens. According to him, Zagreb must extradite Mladen
Naletilic Tuta to the Hague-based Tribunal and provide all
information which this court asks.
(hina) ms