SARAJEVO, Dec 8 (Hina) - UN Special Human Rights Rapporteur for the region of former Yugoslavia, Elizabeth Rehn, said in Sarajevo on Sunday that the international community had to carefully watch the actions of authorities in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia, and immediately react at any sign of violation of the basic human rights.
SARAJEVO, Dec 8 (Hina) - UN Special Human Rights Rapporteur for the
region of former Yugoslavia, Elizabeth Rehn, said in Sarajevo on
Sunday that the international community had to carefully watch the
actions of authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and Croatia, and immediately react at any sign of
violation of the basic human rights. #L#
Speaking at the opening of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Human Rights
Centre in Sarajevo which was founded with the support of the
Council of Europe, Rehn warned that there would not be true
democracy in any of the former Yugoslav countries if the respect of
the human rights of every individual was not insured.
She stressed that all events in Croatia and Serbia directly
influenced the situation in Bosnia and the peace process.
There were reasons for dissatisfaction about the insufficient
degree of media freedom and the respect of human rights of
minorities.
The Croatian government had shown good will for cooperation
and communication, but not enough for taking concrete steps for the
protection of the remainder of Serbs in the former occupied areas
of Croatia, Rehn said.
She also stressed that she was particularly concerned about
the views of residents in eastern Slavonia. There was still a large
degree of hatred and distrust, so the mandate of UNTAES needed to
be extended.
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