OSCE Mission to Croatia concerned about renaming of streets

ZAGREB, 25 March 2005 - The OSCE Mission to Croatia is concerned that the renaming of places and streets in commemoration of people and events could prove divisive and undermine reconciliation efforts in Croatian society.

"Decisions on place-names are sensitive and should not be used as a way of denying the role or contribution of important parts of society," said Ambassador Peter Semneby, the Head of the OSCE Mission.

"We consider it important that all decision-makers exercise moderation in renaming places and streets."

Serb-majority Municipal Council of Plaski, some 120 km south-west of Zagreb, this week had decided to rename a number of streets in the municipality, replacing renowned Croatian names with Serbian ones.

Ambassador Semneby said that the Plaski Council decision raises the wider issue of how Croatia's multi-ethnic character and rich history should be reflected in the names of places and streets.

"Place and street names are important and sensitive, because they relate directly to the identity of those places and their inhabitants."

The Mission hopes that all the main parties in the Plaski Municipal Council will together reconsider the whole issue of street names. It is reasonable that the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural character of Plaski and similar towns should be reflected in the street names, but no action should be taken without careful consideration.

Many names with Serb connotations have also been changed throughout Croatia over the course of several years, in some cases replaced by names that the Serb community would find offensive.