ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - United States human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday forwarded to the Croatian government recommendations to ensure a fair electoral campaign and to respect and implement the results of
the January 3 parliamentary elections. A report on the situation in Croatia delivered to Hina today says that "given the upheaval and war that attended the break-up of the former Yugoslavia (late Croatian President Franjo) Tudjman's legacy of unbroken democratic governance in Croatia is a notable accomplishment. Yet Tudjman has also left in place a state which places serious limits on the civil and political rights of its citizens." The HRW outlined recommendations to the current and future Croatian government on the eve of the impending elections. The current government has been recommended to "ensure that the state broadcaster, Croatian Radio Television (HRT),
ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - United States human rights organisation
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday forwarded to the Croatian
government recommendations to ensure a fair electoral campaign and
to respect and implement the results of the January 3 parliamentary
elections.
A report on the situation in Croatia delivered to Hina today says
that "given the upheaval and war that attended the break-up of the
former Yugoslavia (late Croatian President Franjo) Tudjman's
legacy of unbroken democratic governance in Croatia is a notable
accomplishment. Yet Tudjman has also left in place a state which
places serious limits on the civil and political rights of its
citizens."
The HRW outlined recommendations to the current and future Croatian
government on the eve of the impending elections.
The current government has been recommended to "ensure that the
state broadcaster, Croatian Radio Television (HRT), respects the
November 5 regulations guaranteeing equal representation for all
political parties in its coverage of the election campaign;
"Urge local authorities and police not to restrict freedom of
assembly by restricting public demonstrations and political
rallies during the entire election period; and
"Respect and implement the results of the election, including the
recommendations for prime minister and other ministerial
appointments made by the majority party or coalition in the
parliament."
The recommendations to the incoming government are to "undertake
serious reform of HRT in line with 1998 recommendations of the
Council of Europe experts;
"Amend the provisions of the Constitutional Law on the
Constitutional Court and the Law on the Status of Parliament
concerning appointments to the Constitutional Court such that each
candidate will be subject to a public hearing before the Judicial
Board to assess their professional qualifications prior to their
approval by the parliament on a candidate by candidate basis;
"Amend the law on public assembly in accordance with the March 1999
ruling of the Constitutional Court so that the law identifies the
specific locations in each municipality where public gatherings
are permitted and prohibited;
"Reform the law on citizenship to make verification of citizenship
by Croatian Serb refugees easier and to streamline the application
process for citizenship by naturalisation for long-term Serb
residents of Croatia; and
"Amend the Constitutional Law on Minorities to provide for the
meaningful political representation of minorities previously
guaranteed under the articles of the law suspended in 1995."
The HRW also recommended to representatives of the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the
European Union, and the U.S. government to continue with their
engagement in Croatia.
(hina) ha