OSCE reports that more progress is needed in Croatia

ZAGREB, 29 September 1999 - The OSCE Mission to Croatia has issued its fifth progress report. The reports, issued every four months, assess the progress of the Government of Croatia in fulfilling its international obligations and commitments.

In the period May to September 1999, the OSCE Mission to Croatia has engaged in intensive dialogue with the Croatian government regarding its progress in meeting commitments. In addition, the mission issues weekly reports containing its assessment of progress in the various areas of Mission concern, which are distributed to the government. Through these reports and the regular contacts with government officials, the mission informs the government of its appraisal of the extent of progress since the last progress report was issued.

The report identifies piecemeal progress in some areas covered by the mission mandate, but notes that no substantial progress has been made in the most important areas. Priority areas in which progress is needed to overcome remaining post-conflict problems in the country, including the return of refugees and displaced persons, include: repossession of property; clear and transparent implementation of the Amnesty Law; full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and processing of applications for naturalization and verification of citizenship. One-and-a-half years after the formal post-conflict integration of Croatia, discriminatory laws introduced as temporary emergency measures during the conflict remain in force, perpetuating divisions within society.

The security situation in most of the war-affected areas is reported to be satisfactory, with a decreasing number of reported incidents. However, in the area around Vukovar, there was a notable increase in the number of ethnically related incidents.

With parlaimentary elections planned in the near future, the continued lack of progress in the areas of electoral and media reform is of particular concern to the mission. Independent monitoring of Croatian television reveals a continuing pattern of unbalanced news and current affairs reporting in favour of the ruling party.

MEDIA INFORMATION: The OSCE Mission to Croatia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Regugees will hold a joint press conference at OSCE Mission Headquarters on Thursday, 30 September 1999. Ambassador Bernard Poncet, head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia will be available. OSCE Headquarters is located at Florijana Adraseca 14, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

MEDIA CONTACT: Peter Palmer, spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Croatia, tel. (+385) 1 3096 620; fax. (+385) 1 3096 297; mobile (+385) 98 221 916; e-mail: ppalmer@osce.tel.hr ; website: //www.osce.org/missions/croatia