CROATIAN WORLD CONGRESS ON CONCLUSIONS FROM ZAGREB CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - The Croatian World Congress (HSK) on Saturday spoke to the press in Zagreb about the conclusions the HSK Central Committee reached at a two-day conference held in the Croatian capital. The HSK includes national congresses from 29 countries in which live Croatian emigrants, and its aim is to connect Croatian associations because, the HSK estimates, there are some 3.5 million Croats living in some 60 countries around the world. The press asked HSK head Sime Sito Coric to which party the Croatian emigration would vote for at impending parliamentary elections. Coric said the Croatian emigration respected the decision of its people. We advocate free and fair elections, and that the vote go to those who are just and able, he said. We all want a change for the better, and expect the law-based state to come into effect as soon as possible, he said, but added that important in this were the people at the top. The HSK yesterday lodged a complaint to the Croatian Constitutional Court, claiming the voters in the 11th electoral unit were cheated in respect to those in the homeland, due to the fact that the number of elected MPs in the 11th unit depends on the number of cast ballots. The Diaspora also demanded the possibility of voting by post. During yesterday's talks with Foreign Minister Mate Granic, they were told it would take at least two years to solve the problem of voting and voters' lists in consular offices. Commenting on the "reserved position" of Croatia's Opposition Six coalition for Diaspora votes for the House of Representatives due to the fact that the Diaspora has no obligation towards the homeland, such as taxes, Coric reminded the Diaspora had donated more than two billion US dollars in investments, etc. Speaking about Croats in neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, Coric said they were not Diaspora. He urged the international community to carry out its protectorate there correctly because, he reminded, the number of Croats in Bosnia has been reduced by half. The HSK believes Croats should not be forced into a fake unity in Bosnia, Coric said. The HSK is embittered at the fact that Croats have been sitting in prisons in The Hague and America for so long, Coric said, claiming that responsible for this was international and American policy. Coric said the HSK also discussed "Croatia's entry into Europe", concluding that its benefits, as well as dangers, should be taken into consideration. (hina) ha