Dr. Ivan Šimonović received Mr. Peter Semneby, the head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia...

On 7 July 2003, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivan Šimonović, received the head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Peter Semneby, who informed him about the semi-annual report of the OSCE Mission concerning the progress of the Republic of Croatia in the period from November 2002 to July 2003.

The Report, which will be officially released in several days, is positive and notes the increased resolution of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to settle the remaining political issues from the scope of the OSCE Mission to Croatia. The Report also indicates that the past period can be characterised as a positive turnaround in the efforts of Croatian Government. The biggest progress has been achieved in outlining the legislative and administrative framework for the return of refugees, which enables the return of those who lost their tenancy rights, too, and in the adoption of the Constitutional Law on the Rights of Ethnic Minorities.

According to Dr. Šimonović, the positive tone of the Report is important in the light of considering the OSCE mandate in Croatia in the fiscal year 2004, and it reflects the objectively achieved progress. Evaluation of OSCE is also relevant to the opinion on Croatia's application for EU membership which is being prepared by the European Commission.

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