ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - A delegation of the EU (European Union) Troika, on Wednesday handed over a demarche (speaking note) to the Croatian Government which relays the EU concern over the coming parliamentary election in Croatia and
the cooperation between Croatia and the Hague-based international Tribunal (ICTY). On Thursday, the European Commission's office in Zagreb forwarded to Hina the text of this speaking note, and the news agency publishes it as follows: "Speaking Note- The Croatian Government has chosen to ignore most of the EU's views on a new electoral law. This calls into question the Croatian government's commitment to free and fair elections in December. The EU calls on the Croatian government to take urgent action to reach agreement with the opposition parties on the electoral law and a new media law which addresses issues such as the voting rights of all refugees and the minority quota.
ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - A delegation of the EU (European Union)
Troika, on Wednesday handed over a demarche (speaking note) to the
Croatian Government which relays the EU concern over the coming
parliamentary election in Croatia and the cooperation between
Croatia and the Hague-based international Tribunal (ICTY).
On Thursday, the European Commission's office in Zagreb forwarded
to Hina the text of this speaking note, and the news agency
publishes it as follows:
"Speaking Note
- The Croatian Government has chosen to ignore most of the EU's
views on a new electoral law. This calls into question the Croatian
government's commitment to free and fair elections in December. The
EU calls on the Croatian government to take urgent action to reach
agreement with the opposition parties on the electoral law and a new
media law which addresses issues such as the voting rights of all
refugees and the minority quota.
- Referring to the International Community's previous
communications on election procedures, media and refugees voting
rights, as well as to the latest OSCE Progress Report, the EU would
like to draw your attention to the following questions of concern:
- voting rights of refugees should be secured as outlined in the EU-
US-OSCE message forwarded to Foreign Minister Mate Granic on July
12, 1999 - which by the way to date has remained without proper
reaction. The non paper also contained the request for an
accelerated citizenship procedure for individuals with pending
citizenship applications as well as a demand for correct and
updated voter registers;
- it should be remembered that the current modus of Croatian
diaspora voting is working against implementation of the Dayton
accords;
- the EU expresses its concern about the question of minority
representation which should be solved in a non-discriminatory
manner;
- election committees on all levels should be composed in a
politically balanced way;
- out-of-country voting should take place only in Embassies and
Consulates;
- domestic monitoring should be ensured;
- the election law should contribute to the transparency of
campaign funding.
- The EU would like to remind the Croatian authorities of the
contents of the media paper which was presented by the EU, US, and
OSCE to the Croatian authorities in October 1998 - the EU expects
from the Croatian national television an independent and balanced
media coverage of the elections in the spirit of the International
Community's recommendations.
- The EU views this tentatively scheduled election date (December
22) as being unusual for European circumstances - calling for
elections on the verge of Christmas is also hampering successful
domestic and international monitoring.
- There should be no doubt if the parliamentary election process in
its entirety is judged to have been undermined in any way, or
insufficiently implemented, then the hopes and aspirations of the
Croatian people may be set beck by many years.
- The EU has striven hard to provide Croatia with assistance in
meeting its international obligations set out in the Stabilisation
and Association Process including the regional approach of the EU.
It is disappointed that Croatian should have sought to reap the
benefits and rewards of European integration without committing
itself to meeting the required conditions.
- If the points presented do not receive proper attention of the
Croatian Government and Parliament, Croatia risks to hold
elections which will not be recognised as 'free and fair' with all
the resulting consequences. This would have a crucial impact in a
moment when Croatia is already paying a high price for its political
self-isolation and would further worsen the economic and social
situation in Croatia.
- The EU has approached Croatia with a positive attitude in order to
win obstacles on the way for improvement of the contractual
relations between the EU and Croatia and wishes that what concerns
the election law, Croatia would swiftly meet the required
standards.
***
The EU supports the actions taken by the UN and ICTY as part of the
Peace Process in the Former Yugoslavia - in this spirit the EU wants
to express its deep concern about Croatia's serious lack of co-
operation with the ICTY.
- According to the Security Council Decision 827 all parties
concerned should co-operate fully and unconditionally with the
Tribunal.
- The concept of conditionality of the Stabilisation and
Association Process including the regional approach of the EU also
requires full compliance with the ICTY.
- Thus Croatia's serious lack of co-operation with the ICTY hampers
further development of relations between the EU and Croatia," this
note concluded.
(hina) mm ms