( Editorial: --> 2025 )
ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - "For a successful integration of the Serb
population into Croatia, it is important that the so-called "Small
Border Regime", based on an Agreement between Croatia and the FRY
(the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), ensures people of the Danube
region who want to cross the border to FRY, full freedom of
movement," Ambassador Tim Guldimann, the Head of the OSCE Mission
to Croatia, has said.
"The final implementation of the Agreement will take place by 1
December. Twenty-four villages, mainly located in the UNTAES area,
have been excluded from the Croatian definition of the border zone.
This caused concern among Serb politicians, who find the Croat
position discriminatory. In a report to the OSCE Permanent Council
in Vienna, the OSCE mission to Croatia also refers to the
documentation fee, criticised for being too high. Furthermore, the
period one can "stay on the other side" is considered too short,"
read a statement issued by the OSCE Mission on Wednesday.
"The Croatian Government has entered into different commitments
concerning protection of minority rights in the field of education.
Members of the Serb community in the Danube Region find that the
authorities are not complying with these obligations, which are
supposed to ensure Serb interest in the appointment of teachers,
supply of bilingual textbooks and the use of the Serbian language.
The Serbs perceive the current practice as an attempt aimed at
ethnic assimilation. Protest actions and boycotts in schools were
stopped as the authorities announced immediate measures," the
statement added.
"International monitors and national human right groups criticise
the procedural shortcomings in a local trial in Kostajnica in
Central Croatia. The observed shortcomings concern restrictions of
the testimony of the victims as well as an indictment, biased in
favour of the 10 accused men, mainly Bosnian Croats.
Finally the OSCE Mission to Croatia strongly condemns the
provocative incident reported in the Danube Region over the week-
end," the statement read.
(hina) jn mš
191450 MET nov 97
WTA Linz: Aleksandrova protiv Jastremske za naslov
Makedonija: U najvećim trgovačkim lancima promet prepolovljen zbog bojkota
Italija: Monza i Venezia u sve težoj situaciji
Bundesliga: Pobjede Bayerna i Borussije (D)
Najmanje 54 poginulih u napadu na tržnici u Sudanu
Jadranska liga: Primorje EB - Mladost 10-12
Moldavija šalje plin u Pridnjestrovlje uz pomoć EU-a
HNL: Remi Šibenika i Slaven Belupa na Šubićevcu
Davis Cup: Hrvatska - Slovačka 3-1
HAK: Zbog prometne nesreće na A6 u smjeru Zagreba vozi se jednim trakom