- PROCEEDING FROM THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF EVERY DEMOCRATIC AND SOVEREIGN STATE IS THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EVERY HUMAN BEING, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE PROMOTION OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY OF ALL NATIONALITIES,

- PROCEEDING FROM HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, AND FROM THE PROVISIONS ON THE CULTURAL AUTONOMY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT,

- PROCEEDING FROM THE UN UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF 1948, THE DECLARATION ADOPTED IN COPENHAGEN IN 1990, AND THE CHARTER OF PARIS OF 1990,

- PROCEEDING FROM THE CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS OF NATIONALITIES IN DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES, THE SABOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IS HEREBY ENACTING

I

A JUST SOLUTION OF ISSUES CONCERNING SERBS AND OTHER NATIONALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL FACTORS OF DEMOCRACY, STABILITY, PEACE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, AND OF COOPERATION WITH OTHER DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES.

II

THE PROTECTION AND FULL REALIZATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ALL NATIONALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, AND THE PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE CONSTITUENT PARTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTION OF NATIONALITIES, AND AS SUCH BELONG TO THE SPHERE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.

III

THE RIGHTS OF NATIONALITIES AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DO NOT ALLOW ANY ACTIVITIES CONTRARY TO THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND ESPECIALLY OF THE SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA.

IV

ALL NATIONALITIES IN CROATIA SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST ALL ACTIVITIES THAT MAY ENDANGER THEIR EXISTENCE, THEY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED, THE RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION AND TO CULTURAL AUTONOMY.

V

SERBS AND OTHER NATIONALITIES IN CROATIA SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE PROPORTIONALLY IN THE BODIES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND IN ADEQUATE BODIES OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES. THEY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SECURE THEIR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRESERVING THEIR IDENTITY AND BEING PROTECTED FROM ANY ATTEMPT AT BEING ASSIMILATED.

AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS IN CONFORMITY WITH THE OBJECTIVES DEFINED IN ITS BY-LAWS, CONCERNED WITH THE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PARTICULAR NATIONALITY AND THEREBY ACTS AS ITS REPRESENTATIVE, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REPRESENT IT AS A WHOLE AND ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND INTERNATIONALLY.

IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS, INDIVIDUAL NATIONALITIES AND THEIR MEMBERS SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPLY TO INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CALLED UPON TO PROTECT HUMAN AND NATIONAL RIGHTS.

CLASS: 010-04/91-01/03
ZAGREB, JUNE 25, 1991

PARLIAMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (SABOR)

PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENT
ZARKO DOMLJAN, D.SC.

PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF
ASSOCIATED LABOUR
IVAN MATIJA

PRESIDENT
OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMUNES
LUKA BEBIC

PRESIDENT
OF THE SOCIO-POLITICAL CHAMBER
IVAN VEKIC

Source: Official translation
NARODNE NOVINE NO. 31/91