New Croatian government faces key test on human rights implementation, says OSCE Mission report

ZAGREB, 16 December 2003 - A new report issued by the OSCE Mission to Croatia urges the new Croatian government to ensure that key human rights issues are dealt with as priorities.

"The new Government inherits a mixed legacy, on the one hand, the forward-looking focus on EU membership, and on the other hand the continued presence of issues remaining from the armed conflict," said Ambassador Peter Semneby, the Head of the OSCE Mission, in a press conference today.

"The attitude and the implemented policies of the new Government will play a significant role for Croatia's EU membership aspirations in tackling the concerns mentioned [in the report]", he said.

The 22-page document outlines Croatia's progress in fulfilling its international commitments between July and December 2003 in areas that fall under the OSCE mandate. This includes refugee return, justice and the rule of law, reintegration and restitution of property, freedom of the media, police reform and the state of civil society.

"Developments in the substantive areas covered by the Mission's mandate were less evident during the second half of 2003 compared to the beginning of the year," said Ambassador Semneby.

Most of the issues mentioned in the report coincide with the political criteria for European Union membership, as they have been formulated by the European Commission for Croatia.

The report will be presented by Ambassador Semneby to the 55-nation OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, 18 December.