ZAGREB, April 28 (Hina) - We are not changing laws which had discriminatory provisions for the international community, but because we believe Croatia must be a country of equal rights and opportunities for all of its citizens,
including Croatian Serbs, Deputy Premier Goran Granic said on Friday. Granic spoke to the press after the first working meeting of a government committee of the Coordination for Areas of Special State Concern. The Coordination was established to revitalise areas of special government concern more successfully and more quickly. The Coordination's committee includes government members and representatives of the international community in Croatia, namely United States Ambassador William Montgomery, European Commission special envoy Per Vinther, and representatives of the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
ZAGREB, April 28 (Hina) - We are not changing laws which had
discriminatory provisions for the international community, but
because we believe Croatia must be a country of equal rights and
opportunities for all of its citizens, including Croatian Serbs,
Deputy Premier Goran Granic said on Friday.
Granic spoke to the press after the first working meeting of a
government committee of the Coordination for Areas of Special State
Concern.
The Coordination was established to revitalise areas of special
government concern more successfully and more quickly. The
Coordination's committee includes government members and
representatives of the international community in Croatia, namely
United States Ambassador William Montgomery, European Commission
special envoy Per Vinther, and representatives of the European
Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Granic said he was satisfied with the committee's first meeting,
which he said openly discussed actual problems and the joint
interest to start resolving concrete problems and implementing
concrete projects now that financial assistance to the return of
refugees and displaced persons was announced.
The deputy premier said he was sure the international community
would extend even greater support to finding a solution to what he
called a serious political and economic issue.
Reminding that a bill on reconstruction, which gives all returnees
equal rights independently of their nationality, had been endorsed
in first reading, Granic announced the government would soon
forward into parliamentary procedure a bill of amendments to the
law on areas of special state concern, to which the international
community also had objections.
U.S. Ambassador Montgomery asserted refugee returns and
reconciliation were key to stability and peace in the region. He
fully supported the Croatian government's endeavours and policy in
connection with those issues, as well as the establishment of the
Coordination's committee.
The international community is aware of the problem and destruction
Croatia has suffered, the ambassador said, adding good political
will and cooperation were sufficient for making big progress in a
short time.
(hina) ha jn