The UNHCR praised the amended law as enhancement in the protection of refugees in Croatia and as efforts by the Croatian authorities to adjust this legislation with the European Union acquis communautaire and the 1951 convention on refugees' status.
UNHCR Representative in Croatia, Wilfried Bucchorn, described today's adoption of the amended legislation as a special day in the international protection of refugees.
Since 2004, Croatia has granted asylum to 18 applicants and subsidiary protection to 12 people.
The UNHCR office also thanked the Croatian interior ministry for having enabled it to be engaged in the process of drawing up the amendments. It stated that a majority of its proposals had been incorporated in the amendments.