CROATIA ADMITTED TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE - C-O-E STATEMENT

STRASBOURG, Oct 16 (Hina) - The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers decided on Wednesday to formally admit Croatia as the 40th member of this organization on November 6, the Council said in a statement. The decision was based on a recommendation adopted by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly in April 1996, letters between the Croatian Government and the Committee of Ministers, and an invitation for delayed admission published in July. In its contacts with the Council of Europe, Croatia assumed several commitments such as the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and respect for human rights and the rights of displaced people and freedom of the press, according to the statement. Croatia also assumed commitments to ratify the European Human Rights Convention and sign and ratify the Council of Europe's draft convention on the protection of national minorities and the European Local Autonomy Charter. The Committee of Ministers decided that the Croatian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly would have five members. Croatia applied for Council of Europe membership on 11 November 1992. (hina) vm mm 161516 MET oct 96