ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - The failure of economic revival of eastern +Slavonia is the first and most prominent challenge to lasting peace +and the establishment of confidence in the area, the Article 11 +Commission said in its report on
the Croatian Danube River region on +Friday.+ The Article 11 Commission is in charge of monitoring the +implementation of the Erdut Agreement on the reintegration of +eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem into the Croatian +administrative system signed in 1995.+ In its report issued on Thursday after a visit to the Croatian +Danubian area on the occasion of the third anniversary of the +signing of the agreement, Article 11 Commission assessed that +progress had been achieved with large investments by the +international community into peace in the region, but stressed that +stipulations from Erdut were only partially implemented.+ The Commission called on the
ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - The failure of economic revival of eastern
Slavonia is the first and most prominent challenge to lasting peace
and the establishment of confidence in the area, the Article 11
Commission said in its report on the Croatian Danube River region on
Friday.
The Article 11 Commission is in charge of monitoring the
implementation of the Erdut Agreement on the reintegration of
eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem into the Croatian
administrative system signed in 1995.
In its report issued on Thursday after a visit to the Croatian
Danubian area on the occasion of the third anniversary of the
signing of the agreement, Article 11 Commission assessed that
progress had been achieved with large investments by the
international community into peace in the region, but stressed that
stipulations from Erdut were only partially implemented.
The Commission called on the Croatian Government to continue
providing full support to the process of return of refugees and
displaced persons.
Stressing that the region, which is rich, but war-ravaged, was
stagnating in economic development, which seriously hindered the
return of both Croats and Serbs. The bad condition of the economy is
the main factor of the continuation of the exodus of ethnic Serbs
from eastern Slavonia.
The Commission hailed the Government's efforts to revive the
economy, but also warned that the practice of providing Croats with
privilege regarding employment should stop, and the attitude
towards social serviced should be indiscriminative.
The security situation in the Danubian area continues to be
relatively good, however, the Commission stressed, there are
numerous reports on intimidation of ethnic Serbs, often with the
use of explosive devices.
The Article 11 Commission applauded the Government's decision on
the establishment of constructive relations with the Joint Council
of Municipalities in the region, including a discussion on solving
the financial crisis which it is facing.
As regards the return of displaced persons, the Commission said
that certain housing commissions in the Danubian area misused their
authorities by forcefully evicting ethnic Serbs, while in other
parts of Croatia, housing commissions continued to evict Croats
slowly, thus hindering the return of Serbs, the Commission said in
its report.
Ethnic Serbs and Croats continue to manipulate language issues,
national symbols and nationalities with the aim of political
division, the Commission said. It stressed that schools were the
place of most concerns regarding this occurrence.
The Croatian government should fulfil its commitments towards
schools which carried two-language education classes, and prevent
further politics in the education system.
A special role in the establishment of trust have the media in the
Danubian area, the Commission estimated, calling on them to be
objective and unbiased.
The Commission expects the Croatian side to be righteous at the
awarding of long-term concessions to local radio stations.
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