$ TS ZAGREB, 5 Oct (Hina) - The President of the Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Croats (DSHV), Bela Tonkovic, tonight stated that Serbian authorities were trying to divide and assimilate national minorities living in Yugoslavia. In
a phone conversation with Croatian Television, Tonkovic said that the tendency could best be seen in the attempt of Serbian authorities to 'turn' Backa Croats (known as 'Bunjevci') into Serbs.
LIS
$ TS
ZAGREB, 5 Oct (Hina) - The President of the Democratic Alliance of
Vojvodina Croats (DSHV), Bela Tonkovic, tonight stated that Serbian
authorities were trying to divide and assimilate national
minorities living in Yugoslavia. In a phone conversation with
Croatian Television, Tonkovic said that the tendency could best be
seen in the attempt of Serbian authorities to 'turn' Backa Croats
(known as 'Bunjevci') into Serbs. #L#
Commenting on statements by the Yugoslav Human Rights Minister
Margit Savovic on the non-existence of Croats in Yugoslavia and a
statement by the Yugoslav Vice Premier Ratko Markovic, who said
that Bunjevci would be granted a status of a nation in Yugoslavia,
Tonkovic said that such statements were just another try aimed at
sowing distention among the members of the Croat people.
'This is a flagrant breach of the Croatian-Yugoslav
Normalisation Agreement', Tonkovic said, adding he had sent a
protest message to the Yugoslav government.
Tonkovic called on Backa Croats 'not to yield to the
provocation as it is just another grotesque example of pre-election
campaigning'.
Speaking about the upcoming elections in Yugoslavia, Tonkovic
said that his party would participate in the elections on
independent lists.
(hina) rm
052137 MET oct 96