The information contained in this Response and its attachments generally pertains to government policies towards minorities which are not in areas directly affected by the on-going conflict between Croatia and Serbia. Information on the treatment of people in the war zones can be researched upon request.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty noted in a September 1990 report that many Serbs perceive that amendments made to the Croatian constitution in July 1990 denied Serbs their basic rights (RFE/RL 14 Sept. 1990, 41). In December 1990, Croatia adopted a new constitution which reportedly includes provisions for the guarantee of minority rights (Helsinki Watch 31 August 1991, 4). However, according to Amnesty International many Serbs disapproved of these constitutional changes as they believe the new constitution reduces the status of ethnic Serbs from that of the largest national group in Yugoslavia to that of a minority within Croatia (Amnesty International Nov. 1991, 3).

In January 1991, a Commission for Protection of Nationalities was formed (BBC Summary 24 Jan. 1991). A Law on Human Rights and Freedoms and the Rights and Freedoms of Ethnic Minorities and Groups was reportedly adopted by the parliament in December 1992 (East European Reporter Jan./Feb. 1992, 18). However, according to a report from Tanjug, based in Belgrade, the Croatian Information Ministry indicated that the law will be enacted "'after the restoration of total and permanent peace on the whole territory of Croatia...'" (30 Nov. 1990). Please find attached excerpts from this law and an interview with Vladimir Seks, who was involved in drafting the law (Vjesnik 4 Dec. 1991). Further, please find attached a number of reports on the situation of and government policies towards minorities in Croatia over the past year. These reports include interviews with government authorities and information on incidents of discrimination and harassment and the response, or lack of response, of the Croatian government to such incidents. In addition, please consult the Human Rights Watch World Report 1992 available at Regional Documentation Centres.

Also attached, please find a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty article on the Croatian election held in April and May 1990 which provides information on the platform of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Further information on the HDZ's campaign leading up to the election may be researched upon request.

References

Amnesty International. November 1991. Yugoslavia: Torture and Deliberate and Arbitrary Killings in War Zones. (AI Index: EUR 48/26/91). London: Amnesty International Publications.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 24 January 1991. "Commission for Protection of Nationalities Constituted in Croatian Assembly." (NEXIS)

East European Reporter [Budapest]. January/February 1992. Vol. 5, No. 1. "Croatia's Minorities Law."

Helsinki Watch. 31 August 1991. News From Helsinki Watch. "Yugoslavia: Human Rights Abuses in the Croatian Conflict." New York: Helsinki Watch, pp. 2-4.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 14 September 1990. Report on Eastern Europe. Vol. 1, No. 37. Milan Andrejevich. "Croatia Between Stability and Civil War (Part 1)."

Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 30 November 1991. "Government Approves Minority Rights Bill." (FBIS-EEU-91-231 2 Dec. 1991, p. 41)

Vjesnik [Zagreb, in Croatian]. 4 December 1991. "Vladimir Seks Explains Law on Minorities." (FBIS-EEU-91-249 27 Dec. 1991, pp. 27-29)

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 24 January 1991. "Commission for Protection of Nationalities Constituted in Croatian Assembly." (NEXIS)

East European Reporter [Budapest]. January/February 1992. Vol. 5, No. 1. "Croatia's Minorities Law," p. 18.

Helsinki Watch. 13 February 1992. Open Letter to Franjo Tudjman, President of the Republic of Croatia, pp. 19-33.

. 31 August 1991. News From Helsinki Watch. "Yugoslavia: Human Rights Abuses in the Croatian Conflict." New York: Helsinki Watch, pp. 2-5.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2 November 1990. Report on Eastern Europe [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 14. "Crisis in Croatia and Slovenia: Proposal for a Confederal Yugoslavia," pp. 29-30.

. 4 May 1990. Report on Eastern Europe [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 18. Milan Andrejevich. "Croatia Goes to the Polls," pp. 33- 37.

Der Standard [Vienna, in German]. 19 February 1992. "Tudjman on UN Peace Troops, Minority Issue." (FBIS-EEU-92-034 20 Feb. 1992, pp. 21-22)

Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 30 November 1991. "Government Approves Minority Rights Bill." (FBIS-EEU-91-231 2 Dec. 1991, p. 41)

Vecernji List [Zagreb, in o-CroatCroatian]. 14 March 1992. "Greguric Letter on Rights of Ethnic Serbs." (FBIS-EEU-92-060 27 Mar. 1992, pp. 42-43)

Vjesnik. [Zagreb, in Serbo-Croatian] 4 December 1991. "Vladimir Seks Explains Law on Minorities." (FBIS-EEU-91-249 27 Dec. 1991, pp. 27-29)

. [Zagreb, in Serbo-Croatian]. 22 November 1992. "Article Examines Draft Law on Minorities." (FBIS-EEU-91-235 6 Dec. 1991, pp. 48-50).

The Washington Post. 17 June 1991. Final Edition. Blaine Harden. "Croatia's Nationalism Takes Hard Turn to the Right...." (NEXIS)