$ ESSION ZAGREB, 15 April (Hina) - The Republic of Croatia which exists only a short period of time as an independent state, has accepted all major U.N., OSCE and Council of Europe documents on the protection of human rights, Croatian
Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic told a session of the U.N. Committee for Human Rights in Geneva on Monday.
S
$ ESSION
ZAGREB, 15 April (Hina) - The Republic of Croatia which exists only
a short period of time as an independent state, has accepted all
major U.N., OSCE and Council of Europe documents on the protection
of human rights, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic
told a session of the U.N. Committee for Human Rights in Geneva on
Monday. #L#
'Initial results in the development of democracy,
establishment of the state of law and protection of human rights
were diminished due to the aggression', which 'caused hundreds of
thousands of Croats and other non-Serb citizens to become refugees
and displaced persons', Simonovic said.
Croatia was still caring for some 380,000 displaced people and
refugees. Some 130,000 people could return to the areas liberated
in 1995, but because of problems in the development of those
devastated areas, only some 30,000 persons returned, Simonovic
said.
'From the very beginning of the aggression we have allowed the
presence of a long-term OSCE mission on the whole of our territory.
We hope to become a member of the Council of Europe in the next few
weeks. This would consolidate Croatia's international goals, as a
democratic country which wants to direct its activities towards
highest international standards of human rights protection', the
Croatian deputy foreign minister said.
Stronger pressure should be exerted on the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia to make it finally start cooperating in the search for
missing persons.
Croatia cooperated with the international community and with
The Hague War Crimes Tribunal, Simonovic said, adding that the aim
of the Croatian Government was to 'secure effective protection of
human rights of all people'. Croatia proved that with
investigations of criminal acts committed in the liberated Croatian
areas.
President Tudjman had granted pardon to 455 Croatian Serbs who
had taken part in the armed rebellion against Croatia, as a sign of
Croatia's willingness to work on the restoration of confidence,
Simonovic said.
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