CROATIAN STUDENTS SIGN 'STUDENTS FOR STABILITY' INITIATIVE

ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - The students corps of the University of Zagreb and the Croatian Students' Association signed in Helsinki on December 2 a declaration of the "Students for Stability" group which gathers students from Southeast Europe. The declaration gathers students with the aim to promote democracy, human rights, and greater ties among students in the region. Besides Croatia, the declaration was signed by students' organisation representatives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia. The declaration stresses the importance of students' participation in democratic processes and decision-making, and the prevention of the use of students' movements for political purposes. One of the aims of the declaration is the equating of higher education systems to make diplomas recognised on the international level. Another is the stimulation of student exchange programmes. In order to prevent tension among ethnic communities and achieve peaceful coexistence, the declaration points to the necessity of projects which will develop students' awareness of cultural and ethnic differences and tolerance. The declaration should also deal with the human rights issue, especially the right to education. The students emphasise the necessity of a parallel economic growth and development of the region, and that each proposed project will have to be endorsed by each declaration signatory. (hina) ha