ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - An association of Croat refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina who settled in Croatia and two associations of Croatian Serbs presented in Zagreb on Tuesday a joint statement whose aim is developing tolerance and
finding solutions important for the living of members of these two communities. The associations committed to assist the Croatian government in efficiently solving issues concerning returnees of Serb nationality, Croat immigrants and settlers, and creating a climate of tolerance. The associations have called on bodies of the international community, the European Union and the United States, and the governments of donor countries to give maximum assistance to the realisation of the return programme.
ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - An association of Croat refugees from
Bosnia-Herzegovina who settled in Croatia and two associations of
Croatian Serbs presented in Zagreb on Tuesday a joint statement
whose aim is developing tolerance and finding solutions important
for the living of members of these two communities.
The associations committed to assist the Croatian government in
efficiently solving issues concerning returnees of Serb
nationality, Croat immigrants and settlers, and creating a climate
of tolerance.
The associations have called on bodies of the international
community, the European Union and the United States, and the
governments of donor countries to give maximum assistance to the
realisation of the return programme.#L#
Nediljko Knezovic signed the statement on behalf of the Association
of Croat Immigrants and Settlers, Milorad Pupovac did so on behalf
of the Serb People's Council, and Veljko Dzakula on behalf of the
Serb Democratic Forum.
Assistant Foreign Minister Josip Paro called the statement "one of
the most beautiful documents of the last ten years," and the first
of this kind created without mediation by the international
community.
In the joint statement, the associations welcome a government
decision to include in the work of its bodies in charge of areas of
special government concern representatives of communities and non-
governmental organisations providing for Serb returnees and Croat
immigrants and settlers.
The associations have called on the international community to
equally treat every man in adversity, regardless of his nationality
or faith, and to assist in the implementation of returns, so that
Serb returnees be given the right to use their property, Croat
immigrants and settlers the possibility of permanent
accommodation, and all the right to reconstruction and dignified
living.
In the statement, Serb and Croat NGOs have called on Bosnia-
Herzegovina's authorities, and those of BH's two entities, to
enable undisturbed refugee returns, and on the international
community, the governments of Croatia, BH and its Serb entity to
step up the normalisation of transborder communication and
returns.
Assistant Minister Paro said the document showed Croatia was
"creating a civil society interacting with the government (...) in
a manner which is spectacular given the history of the conflict."
Paro voiced hope "Croatia's public will (also) become more
sensitive to the fates of people who through no fault of their own
became victims of the conflict." He assessed the statement itself,
which calls on victims to coexist, was the answer to every cheap
rightist deviation.
Croatian Serb official Pupovac assessed the statement the most
important act for internal affairs and Croatia's future. "This is a
new philosophy of new political conduct and an important step many
did not expect."
Nediljko Knezovic said on behalf of the Association of Croat
Immigrants and Settlers the association would not allow that any of
the Croats living in Serb-owned houses be left on the street. He
added the Serb People's Council supported this.
"We are willing to return the houses to the owners, but other
measures also have to be effected, the normalisation of living,
dialogue and tolerance in the field," said Knezovic.
Veljko Dzakula said on behalf of the Serb Democratic Forum this was
a "new moment which will step up the overcoming of problems. Only
with the arrival of new authorities was the programme able to enter
a more serious stage."
(hina) ha jn