CROATIA WILL FULFIL ALL OBLIGATIONS TOWARD COUNCIL OF EUROPE - JUSTICE

JUSTICE $ MINISTER ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Croatia will fulfil all of its obligations concerning the adjustment of its laws and institutions to Council of Europe standards which it undertook upon admission into the Council of Europe, Croatian Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic said in Zagreb on Monday, after talks with the Council of Europe legal affairs director, Guy de Vel. The talks focused on the course of adjustment of the Croatian legal infrastructure to Council of Europe standards. "I confirmed that the Croatian government will comply with all commitments undertaken upon being admitted to the Council of Europe", Separovic told reporters, adding this "is primarily in Croatia's interest." According to de Vel, "cooperation is good (…) and today I was pleased to hear there are plans for this cooperation to be intensified." Croatia's Separovic said Croatia has to make an "important step forward" and accept the Convention on Human Rights which, he added, he heard was imminent. Through special programmes, the Council of Europe is trying to assist Central and Eastern European countries in adjusting their legislation and institutions to its standards, stipulated in conventions on human rights, national minorities, and prevention of torture and inhuman behaviour towards others. According to Separovic, Croatia will ratify all relevant Council of Europe conventions by the 6 November deadline. Croatia's new criminal code, he added, was adjusted in line with Council of Europe demands. The justice minister announced Croatia will adjust its laws on imprisonment, the state judicial council and offences in line with the council's demands as well. Representatives of the Council of Europe will soon arrive in Croatia to see the degree to which Croatia is complying with its obligations. (hina) ha 061838 MET oct 97