AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORRIED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN USA

( Editorial: --> 1877 ) ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Amnesty International Croatia (AIH) will ask Croatian Opposition leaders who are to pay an official visit to the United States, to convey to the US government the concern of this organisation over the violation of human rights in America. We welcome the Opposition's visit to the United States if it will promote the protection of human rights in both countries, AIH secretary Edin Tuzlak told reporters on Wednesday. Tuzlak said he was surprised that the Croatian Government had still not presented its stand concerning the violation of human rights in the United States, although AIH knew that it had been informed about it. "The human rights situation in the United States is very worrying, actually alarming," Tuzlak said adding that Amnesty International would launch a campaign against human rights violations in the USA for the first time in October. AIH welcomes the Government's engagement and efforts it has been making in establishing a permanent International Criminal Court, Tuzlak said. The establishment of the court is being obstructed by the United States and France, who make ultimatums and exclusive requests for their citizens, while Great Britain, after the election victory of the Labour Party, is heading a coalition of states, including Croatia, who are advocating the establishment of such a court, he said. (hina) jn rml/bag 171547 MET jun 98