Croatian president: Law on minority rights must be respected

ZAGREB The Law on Minority Rights must be respected, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic says commenting on protests against introduction of Cyrillic alphabet in Vukovar. According to the latest census, Serbs make up more than one third of the total population in Vukovar. Croatian president: Law on minority rights must be respected “I have been very clear when it comes to Cyrillic script, even though some have been twisting my statements. The constitutional law on the rights of ethnic minorities needs to be respected,” the president told Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji list. Commenting on Croatia’s relations with neighboring Slovenia, he said he believed Slovenia would ratify Croatia’s EU Accession Treaty. “I think it is clear to us in Croatia and to our friends in Slovenia that postponement of our EU accession would be a defeat both for Croatia and Slovenia. The two countries’ relations are not a reflection of current influences or legal possibilities bearing in mind Croatia and Slovenia’s status in the EU. It is being built and maintained for decades and generations. It would be really irresponsible to ruin it. That is why I am certain that the governments of both countries will do everything to find a solution that will be acceptable to both states,” Josipovic pointed out. The Croatian president expressed concern over Croatia’s lowered credit rating but added that it was expected. “The rating is a reminder of unimplemented reforms, lack of investments, lost jobs and high unemployment rate. It is a reminder of poverty that has found its way into many homes,” he stressed. Commenting on cooperation with Russia and Russian investments in Croatia, Josipovic said that a negative attitude of a part of the public and some politicians was a “great and dangerous prejudice”. “All western countries have a successful and long cooperation with Russia, so all doubts, ideological or economic ones, have an interest background or they are simply just prejudice. A fair cooperation with all countries, especially economic giants such as Russia, is a great opportunity for Croatia,” he explained. The Croatian president noted that it was up to the Croatian government and businesspeople to negotiate and achieve the most favorable agreements for Croatia. “It is high time that the public, media and a part of the politics realize that there will be no way out of the crisis, new jobs, better and more quality life without investments,” he pointed out. “Overall, attitude toward investments in Croatia is alarming. As soon as an investor shows up, domestic or foreign, a group of critics releases a horrible fact – investors want to make money! Well of course, why would they invest otherwise? It is important that they pay regular and decent wages to workers, pay taxes and respect the laws, especially environmental ones,” Josipovic concluded. Ivo Josipovic (FoNet, file) Tanjug

Croatian president: Law on minority rights must be respected

“I have been very clear when it comes to Cyrillic script, even though some have been twisting my statements. The constitutional law on the rights of ethnic minorities needs to be respected,” the president told Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji list.

Commenting on Croatia’s relations with neighboring Slovenia, he said he believed Slovenia would ratify Croatia’s EU Accession Treaty.

“I think it is clear to us in Croatia and to our friends in Slovenia that postponement of our EU accession would be a defeat both for Croatia and Slovenia. The two countries’ relations are not a reflection of current influences or legal possibilities bearing in mind Croatia and Slovenia’s status in the EU. It is being built and maintained for decades and generations. It would be really irresponsible to ruin it. That is why I am certain that the governments of both countries will do everything to find a solution that will be acceptable to both states,” Josipović pointed out.

The Croatian president expressed concern over Croatia’s lowered credit rating but added that it was expected.

“The rating is a reminder of unimplemented reforms, lack of investments, lost jobs and high unemployment rate. It is a reminder of poverty that has found its way into many homes,” he stressed.

Commenting on cooperation with Russia and Russian investments in Croatia, Josipović said that a negative attitude of a part of the public and some politicians was a “great and dangerous prejudice”.

“All western countries have a successful and long cooperation with Russia, so all doubts, ideological or economic ones, have an interest background or they are simply just prejudice. A fair cooperation with all countries, especially economic giants such as Russia, is a great opportunity for Croatia,” he explained.

The Croatian president noted that it was up to the Croatian government and businesspeople to negotiate and achieve the most favorable agreements for Croatia.

“It is high time that the public, media and a part of the politics realize that there will be no way out of the crisis, new jobs, better and more quality life without investments,” he pointed out.

“Overall, attitude toward investments in Croatia is alarming. As soon as an investor shows up, domestic or foreign, a group of critics releases a horrible fact – investors want to make money! Well of course, why would they invest otherwise? It is important that they pay regular and decent wages to workers, pay taxes and respect the laws, especially environmental ones,” Josipović concluded.