COORDINATION OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE

PRESS CONFERENCE ZAGREB, March 3 (Hina) - The Coordination of organisations for protection of human rights of the Republic of Croatia would launch public campaigns, lobby the Parliament members and inform the public in order to prevent the adoption of a 'centralised law on associations that is being prepared'. The aim of the Coordination was also to explain the role of ombudsman of the Republic of Croatia and warn of a report of the current ombudsman Branko Babac on the work in 1994, which had been submitted to the Parliament Committee for the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System, a representative of the Group for direct protection of human rights in Zagreb, Veronika Reskovic, who is one of the 15 members of the Coordination, told a press conference in Zagreb today. On March 2 and 3, the Coordination organised its annual meeting. The working part of the meeting was held behind closed doors. The Coordination would continue with its work in the offices in Pakrac, Karlovac, Vrhovine and Knin. A representative of the Coordination and member of the Committee for Human Rights, Ratko Vlado Aleksic, spoke about the work of the Coordination office in Pakrac and preparations for the opening of another office in Okucani. Mirjana Gelo, president of the association for protection of human rights and civil freedoms "Homo", informed the press conference about the work of offices in Karlovac, Vrhovine and Knin. (hina) rm 031701 MET mar 96