Statement on speech by Croatian Deputy Prime Minister

ZAGREB, 18 September 1999 -- On Friday, 15 October 1999, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development, Immigration and Reconstruction, Dr. Jure Radic, made a speech in the village of Kistanje, near Knin, in which he referred to the presentation made by Ambassador Bernard Poncet, Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, at the OSCE Permanent Council session the previous day.

According to all reports, Dr Radic accused the OSCE Head of Mission of being ill intentioned and lying in his assessment of the extent of progress in implementing the Government's Return Programme.

In fact, in his speech to the Permanent Council, Ambassador Poncet noted the Mission's "positive assessment of return movements," as well as that "initiatives taken by the Government since the last Progress Report (of May 1999) have improved the framework and systems supporting the process of return." However, the ambassador noted that many issues remain unresolved, the process of repossessing property and gaining access to reconstruction assistance remains problematic, and three discriminatory laws related to return have yet to be amended.

Ambassador Poncet today wrote to the Prime Minister, Zlatko Matesa, on the matter.

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/croatia