MINELRES: MRG: 'Half-measures' and delays leave Croatia's minorities vulnerable

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Catherine Woollard <catherine.woollard@mrgmail.org> 


Minority Rights Group International 

Press Release     09 October 2003     For immediate Release

'Half-measures' and delays leave Croatia's minorities vulnerable

Croatia's minority groups remain vulnerable, lack citizenship rights, or
are unable to return to their homes due to failure by the government to
fully implement new laws on minority protection, concludes a new
Minority Rights Group International (MRG) report1, launched today. Eight
years after the war, most ethnic Serbs from Croatia remain outside the
country as refugees, while internally minorities still struggle for
recognition of their rights. The report welcomes the new Constitutional
Law on the Rights of National Minorities, however it stresses that
responsibilities should be clearly defined and actions put in place in
order to avoid further delays in implementation of these vital measures.

The MRG report recognizes that the difficulties of reconstructing
relationships between communities are immense after the bloody five-year
war with the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However, it points
out that progress has been unacceptably slow in ensuring the
implementation of laws and in facilitating the process of refugee
return. The government has faced pressure from the international
community to end discrimination, facilitate return, and implement human
rights standards. These standards should now include the 1993 Copenhagen
criteria provisions for minority protection, crucial to EU membership as
Croatia is a potential EU candidate country.

MRG's report focuses on the situation of Serb and Roma minorities
amongst numerous minority communities in Croatia including Albanians,
Bosniaks, Czechs and Hungarians. The Council of Europe (CoE) Advisory
Committee have highlighted their concern over these communities and
criticised the regrettably slow implementation of the Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). At the
local level, certain authorities were reluctant both to remedy the
consequences of past discriminatory practices, and to establish measures
to ensure that they do not recur.  

Refugee return remains a major minority issue following the war-time
intimidation and expulsion of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Serbs,
forcing them to seek refuge in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. While
ethnic Croats were also displaced, the process of return has proved far
easier for them than for Serbs. 'Fast-track' procedures were introduced
under the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) government of Franjo Tudjman for
ethnic Croats to obtain citizenship, legal routes for reclaiming
property, and the possibility of living in homes vacated by ethnic
Serbs. In contrast, obstacles to return have been encountered by ethnic
Serbs as highlighted in a 2002 report by the UN Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which stated concern over
discrimination, restitution of property, tenancy and occupancy rights,
reconstruction assistance and difficulties for Serbs in obtaining
citizenship rights.  

Additional issues of international concern include Croatia's apparent
reluctance to arrest some indicted war criminals and send them to the
International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Action is
required to protect and promote Roma and Serbs in the fields of
employment, education, media portrayal and access, political
participation and the judicial system. Implementation of existing
legislation has been mixed, and while progress has been achieved, much
remains to be done to fulfil both Croatia's Constitutional Law
commitments and minority rights obligations under international law. As
MRG's report suggests, these issues may fester for years if a change in
approach is not forthcoming and resources are not dedicated to this end.

MRG calls on the Croatian government to devise and implement a
well-financed programme, with clear, measurable targets, for the safe
return of minority communities to Croatia. MRG has urged the EU to
ensure that minority rights are an integral part of the partnership
agreement with Croatia in adherence to the Copenhagen criteria on
minority protection when considering Croatia's accession. A strategy to
promote inter-ethnic harmony is essential and should include major
public education and information initiatives to address continuing
prejudice and animosities.

Notes for editors: 

1. Minorities in Croatia edited by Minority Rights Group International
ISBN 1 904584 101. 40pp. Published by Minority Rights Group
International, October 2003. 

For interviews, further information or copies of Minorities in Croatia,
please contact the Press Office at MRG on 020 7978 9498 or 07734768223
(mobile). This report is available online at:   

<http://www.minorityrights.org/OnlineReports/OnlineReport.asp?ID=34 

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental
organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote
cooperation and understanding between communities.

www.minorityrights.org

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