President Franjo Tudjman's Crackdown
On Civil Liberties in Croatia to Blame
STRASBOURG, France, May 13 (Reuters) — The Council of Europe may delay Croatia's accession this week out of concern over recent decisions on civil liberties by President Franjo Tudjman, a source close to the secretary-general said on Monday. Foreign ministers of the 15 European Union countries, meeting in Brussels, signalled their desire for more time, asking the Council to get a firm timetable from Zagreb for meeting the body's democratic standards. They called for a special meeting of the Council's Committee of Ministers before summer, if possible, to discuss the issue.
The Council of Europe source said concern focused on Tudjman's decisions to dissolve the democratically elected Zagreb city council, dominated by the opposition, and on the prosecution of several independent newspapers. A decision to admit a new member to the organisation, which promotes human rights and democracy, must be taken unanimously.
The Council's parliamentary assembly approved Croatia's application on April 24 after Zagreb gave 21 undertakings on human rights, including commitments to pursue the procedure for electing a mayor of Zagreb taking account of Council of Europe recommendations and "guarantee effectively media freedom." Croatia would be the first belligerent state from former Yugoslavia to be admitted to the Strasbourg-based Council.
The former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and Slovenia are already members. Bosnia-Herzegovina has "special guest'' status and rump Yugoslavia — Serbia and Montenegro — has no status with the organisation. Russia was admitted in February despite strong misgivings over its human rights record and military crackdown in Chechnya. In the past approval by the ambassadors has been a formality once the parliamentary assembly has given its green light.
Republic of Croatia, Office of the President
Berserkistan, May 10 · Croatia Accuses Its Human Rights Chief
Berserkistan, May 9 · Croatia Blamed for Human Rights Abuses
Berserkistan, May 8 · Croatia Charges Journalists with Libeling Tudjman
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