ZAGREB, April 25 (Hina) - The Centre for the Development of Democracy (CERD) on Sunday welcomed the positive opinion of the European Commission about Croatia's application for membership of the European Union, saying that it was
mainly the result of efforts by non-governmental organisations for the protection of human rights and the development civil society.
ZAGREB, April 25 (Hina) - The Centre for the Development of Democracy
(CERD) on Sunday welcomed the positive opinion of the European
Commission about Croatia's application for membership of the European
Union, saying that it was mainly the result of efforts by
non-governmental organisations for the protection of human rights and
the development civil society.#L#
The CERD said in a statement that Croatia could have obtained such an
opinion long ago if it really wanted to become a part of Europe, and
"not by writing frivolous answers to the European questionnaire, but
by applying European norms and through its behaviour in practice.
"This means the unconditional return of about 350,000 expelled Serbs
and all their property and punishment for war crimes, because not a
single Croat has been convicted to date of crimes objectively
described in indictments issued by the Hague tribunal."
The statement concluded by saying that "the best defender of the
rights of citizens of Croatia, particularly of citizens that were
expelled, will be institutions and protection mechanisms of the
European Union."
(Hina) vm