CONFERENCE ON NON-GOVT ORGANISATIONS STARTS IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 3008 ) ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - A two-day conference on the contribution of local non-government organisations in Croatia in promoting and applying European human rights standards started in Zagreb on Monday. The conference was organised by the Centre for Direct Protection of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, in conjunction with the Croatian Foreign Ministry and European House. Opening the conference, Mirjana Radaković from the Centre for Direct Protection of Human Rights, said that the conference was a result of cooperation between the Centre and the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commission. Radakovic added the conference was only one of many efforts aimed at promoting ideas and the worth of human rights. Branko Socanac of the Foreign Ministry Human Rights Department said that all government and non-government organisations in Croatia were willing to work together towards developing and promoting human rights. A false picture of the relationship between the government and non- government organisations on the issue of human rights has been painted in the media, Socanac said. Mark Neville from the Council of Europe Human Rights Directorate stressed the importance of non-government organisations. Today, participants in the conference will discuss public gatherings, legal rights of employees and the linking of non- government organisations. Tuesday's agenda includes discussions on the experiences of non- government organisations in Croatia and conditions for further promotion and protection of human rights. (hina) dgr/rm 111622 MET may 98