The president of the Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Croats and member of the Croat National Council (HNV) in Serbia and Montenegro, Petar Kuntic, said that the interests of Croatian Serbs and Serbian Croats in their countries of residence were the same - the right to use their own languages, the right to education and the right to information. He added that the ratification of an agreement on the mutual protection of minorities in both countries would have a positive effect on respect for minority rights.
The establishment of the new umbrella organisation of Croatian Serbs was also welcomed by the president of the HNV Executive Committee, Lazo Vojnic Hajduk. Although there are still cases of ethnic intolerance towards the Croat community, the Serbian state authorities are bearing in mind European standards and this promises positive steps towards a better European future, he said.
Representatives of the Serb minority in Croatia last Saturday established a coordinating body and elected Milorad Pupovac president. They also adopted the flag of the Croatian Serb minority.