WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Hina) - The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a presidential statement which condemns violations of human rights in Croatia and asks from the Croatian Government to make every effort and arrest all perpetrators
and bring them promptly to trial.
WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Hina) - The UN Security Council on Monday
adopted a presidential statement which condemns violations of human
rights in Croatia and asks from the Croatian Government to make
every effort and arrest all perpetrators and bring them promptly to
trial. #L#
The presidential statement 'condemns violations of
international humanitarian law and human rights in the former
sectors North and South in the Republic of Croatia as described in
the report of the Secretary-General, including killings of several
hundreds of civilians, systematic and widespread looting and arson
and other forms of destruction of property'.
The Security Council also expresses its deep concern that
there is a considerable discrepancy between the number of
perpetrators that have so far been brought to justice and the
number of reported violations of international humanitarian law and
human rights.
The presidential statement also expresses concern with
humanitarian situation and safety condition of as well as
violations of rights of elderly Serb population who have remained
in the former sectors North and South in the Republic of Croatia,
and calls on the Croatian Government to provide urgently needed
food, medical assistance and proper shelter to the Serb population.
The Security Council reaffirms that all those who commit
violations of international humanitarian law will be held
individually responsible in respect of such acts.
The Security Council recalls with dismay the failure to date
of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to transfer to the
custody of the International Tribunal in The Hague persons indicted
by the Tribunal, and experesses its concern at the recent
appointment of one of those indicted to a position in the Croatian
army.
The Council shares the Secretary-General's view that the
rights of the members of the Serb population who fled during the
military operation to return to their homes in safety and dignity
are being severely curtailed by the absence of constructive
measures to facilitate their return and asks from the Croatian
Government to secure these measures.
The Security Council calls on the Croatian Government to lift
any time-limits placed on the return of refugees to reclaim their
property. It notes the decision of the Croatian Government of 27
December 1995 to suspend the deadline set in the relevant Croatian
law as a step in the right direction. The Security Council takes
note with appreciation of the decision of the Croatian Government
of 30 December 1995 to suspend criminal proceedings against and
release 455 local Serbs detained on suspicion of armed rebellion.
The Council also urges the Croatian Government to rescind its
decision to suspend several articles of the "Constitutional Law on
Human Rights and Freedoms and the Rights of National and Ethnic
Communities in the Republic of Croatia".
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