OSCE Mission Head presented six-month report on Croatia to media

ZAGREB, 27 May 2002 - Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby, presented the outlines of the latest OSCE report on Croatia to the media.

In a press conference in Zagreb on 24 May, Ambassador Semneby welcomed a number of commitments undertaken by the Government of Croatia in the last six months, including an "Action Plan for the Implementation of Repossession of Property by the End of 2002". He paid tribute to Croatia's resolve to pass a new Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities as well as pledges to modernize its media legislation with OSCE's assistance. Ambassador Semneby also welcomed several important Government policy statements on property repossession, reform of the judiciary, regional co-operation and minority legislation, which the Mission expects would be followed by Government decisions or legislation.

The Head of the OSCE Mission also pointed out the main areas of concern to the Mission, including return of refugees and property repossession, the issue of tenancy/occupancy rights, adoption of Amendments to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern, the state of the judiciary and the rule of law. Ambassador Semneby indicated that the Mission expects progress over the next six months towards the creation of a more favourable climate for the return of refugees and displaced persons and the removal of the remaining legal and administrative obstacles to return.

He also mentioned the importance of developing a dialogue with regional neighbours, addressing the shortcomings of the judicial system and involving minorities more effectively in society and political life. The Mission also expects Government efforts towards eliminating the possibilities for political influence on the judiciary, media and the police and engaging in a more effective dialogue with the international community.

Answering questions from journalists, Ambassador Semneby said he was reluctant to comment on census figures before the results of the last census were official but stressed that the results were important because of the impact they had on the Constitutional Law on National Minorities. Semneby added that in the year that had passed since the census had been taken, thousands of Serb refugees in the meantime were registered as having returned to Croatia. This could cause some debate once the results are published, said Semneby.

Asked if there had been any movement towards the resolution of the question of tenancy/occupancy rights, Ambassador Semneby said that the climate of the Mission's dialogue with the Government on this issue had improved. Stressing the importance of finding a fair solution, which applied to the whole of Croatia, Semneby said priority should be given to people who wanted to return to Croatia.

The report has been distributed to OSCE participating states and will be officially presented to the OSCE Permanent Council on 6 June 2002.

This was Ambassador Semneby's first press conference as Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia.