Delegation of OSCE Ambassadors visits Zagreb

Eighteen Permanent Representatives to the OSCE visited Zagreb on 10 and 11 May 2010 as part of a five-day visit to the Southeast European countries in which the OSCE has field operations.

The delegation, led by the Ambassadors of Greece and Lithuania, was briefed at the OSCE Office in Zagreb by its Head and the Heads of the two mandate-related Units (War Crimes Trials Monitoring and Housing Care Monitoring Units).

Croatian Foreign Affairs Minister Gordan Jandrokovic and Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic received the group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Justice Minister presented the activities and achievements in processing war crimes. The new State Secretary in charge of the implementation of the Croatian Housing Care Programme, Stanko Janic, presented developments in the implementation of the programme for Former Occupancy Tenancy Rights Holders.

The Ambassadors visited the Croatian Parliament, meeting with Croatian delegates to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and members of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. The Ambassadors welcomed Croatia's readiness to host a session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Dubrovnik in 2011.

The delegation also visited the Supreme Court of Justice, where they were briefed by its President, Branko Hrvatin, Deputy President Ana Garacic and Justice Marin Mrcela about the Court's experience in the war crimes trials. The President informed the Ambassadors that independence, professionalism and impartiality in conducting war crimes trials and proceedings are the basic criteria for its work. The Supreme Court President also highlighted the importance of co-operation with international monitors and non-governmental organizations.

The delegation also met with representatives of three Croatian NGOs that monitor war crime trials together with the Office in Zagreb as well as the NGONGO
non-governmental organization SDF, an UNHCR implementing partner, that follows the implementation of the Housing Care Programme.