OSCE Permanent Council passes decision to close OSCE Mission to Croatia

The Decision’s introductory part points out the positive results achieved during the past 11 years through the co-operation between the Croatian Government and the Mission in all areas of its mandate, especially past year in the rule of law and minority rights guaranteed by the Constitutional Law on National Minorities, i.e. the progress in refugee return and reintegration, as well as the implementation of the Refugee Housing Programme.

For the purposes of following the proceedings against the war criminals to be transferred from the Hague, the Permanent Council, after consulting the Croatian Government, has decided to open a small Office in Zagreb. The Office will also report to OSCE during 2008 on the implementation of the Government’s Refugee Housing Programme. This is a common practice in OSCE’s so-called “gradually departure” from countries with strong field presence, and was seen in the Baltic countries when OSCE was closing its missions there.

The Decision also represents an achievement for OSCE itself, especially in view of the highly effective co-operation mechanism set up in Croatia through the so-called Platform, which sped up the reforms, particularly in justice, and human and minority rights. In that regard, Croatia has given a strong contribution to the activities and strengthening of OSCE as an organisation of special importance in the current international relations.