Croatia must reaffirm its commitment to minority rights, OSCE Mission Head says

ZAGREB, 29 November 2002 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby, said today that the Croatian Parliament should adopt a minority law acceptable to Croatian minorities, thereby reaffirming the country's commitment to minority rights.

"It is important to adopt not any law but a good law which minorities see as useful and legitimate," Semneby said referring to the Constitutional Law on National Minorities currently under preparation.

Semneby said the new law must preserve rights already acquired by minorities including the election of minority representatives to the Croatian Parliament by minority votes.

Therefore, all fundamental rights should be regulated in the Constitutional Law while only technical issues should be dealt with by subsidiary regulation.

Ambassador Semneby on Friday addressed a session of the Croatian Parliament's Committee on the Constitution, Rulebook and Political system which discussed the Government's final proposal of the Constitutional Law. He had been invited to participate in the work by the Chairman of the committee, Mato Arlovic.

"I am grateful for having been invited to address this committee. This is in itself a positive sign which demonstrates the improving quality of interaction between the OSCE Mission and Parliament," Semneby said.

He also welcomed discussions held on Thursday between the Government and minority representatives in Parliament and encouraged further discussion.

Other key points the Law should provide for are institutions with appropriate competencies to represent minority interests and representation in administrative and judicial bodies commensurate with the minorities' share of the population.