State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hido Biščević received today, 4 July 2004, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zagreb, Serbian Deputy Minister for Expatriates Aleksandar Čotrić
The two politicians agreed that minority communities should solve the problems of their position and realise their interests in Croatia and Serbia within the two countries’ institutions, thus contributing to the development of mutual relations. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the way Serbian minority is treated in Croatia and with the preparation of the Agreement on the Protection of Minorities, whereby they stressed the importance of solving the minority issues and ensuring the position of the minority communities in Croatia and Serbia in accordance with the EU standards.
State Secretary Biščević expressed his concern with the recent desecration of some 20 or so gravestones and crosses at a Catholic cemetery in Sombor, on the night between 2nd and 3rd July 2004. He expressed his hope that, according to the proclaimed policy of the Serbian government, necessary steps would be taken to prevent such incidents and to create a political and social atmosphere in which suck incidents would not even occur. State Secretary Biščević said that he expects a full and thorough investigation to be conducted regarding the incident.
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