Croatian govt. rejects proposal to delay use of Serbian

ZAGREB The Croatian government rejected on Thursday a proposal put forward by some MPs to "delay" installment of plates written in both Croatian, and Serbian Cyrillic. The signs are placed in buildings housing public institutions in Vukovar, and other Croatian citizes that have over one third of ethic Serb population, in line with the country's laws. Croatian govt. rejects proposal to delay use of Serbian But the MPs suggested this should be postponed "until the next population census." Serbs make up a significant part of the population in that town in eastern Croatia, and the proposal tabled by a third of MPs was rejected with the argument that it is contrary to provisions of the Law on the Rights of National Minorities and international charters on the protection of minorities and their languages in Croatia. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said at the beginning of this open session that Croatia adheres to the rule of law in every part of its territory. Referring to the recent removal of the bilingual plates that again took place in Vukovar, he said he was sorry if someone had objections to the Cyrillic script being used on public buildings, but that there was no choice concerning that. "In 2004, Croatia concluded several bilateral agreements, under which the country is bound to protect minorities, with Serbia and Montenegro, among others," the Minister of Administration Arsen Bauk said. Serbs in Vukovar acquired the right to bilingualism after the data of the latest census showed that they account for over a third of the town's population. However, over a month ago the setting up of plates with names in Cyrillic script on public institutions in that town was overshadowed by incidents and protests by Croatian veterans from the 1990s war. These days, four out of five bilingual name plates were again removed. According to reports, members of the police also took part in the latest instances of removal of the signs. Tanjug

Croatian govt. rejects proposal to delay use of Serbian

But the MPs suggested this should be postponed "until the next population census."

Serbs make up a significant part of the population in that town in eastern Croatia, and the proposal tabled by a third of MPs was rejected with the argument that it is contrary to provisions of the Law on the Rights of National Minorities and international charters on the protection of minorities and their languages in Croatia.

Prime Minister Zoran Milanović said at the beginning of this open session that Croatia adheres to the rule of law in every part of its territory.

Referring to the recent removal of the bilingual plates that again took place in Vukovar, he said he was sorry if someone had objections to the Cyrillic script being used on public buildings, but that there was no choice concerning that.

"In 2004, Croatia concluded several bilateral agreements, under which the country is bound to protect minorities, with Serbia and Montenegro, among others," the Minister of Administration Arsen Bauk said.

Serbs in Vukovar acquired the right to bilingualism after the data of the latest census showed that they account for over a third of the town's population.

However, over a month ago the setting up of plates with names in Cyrillic script on public institutions in that town was overshadowed by incidents and protests by Croatian veterans from the 1990s war. These days, four out of five bilingual name plates were again removed.

According to reports, members of the police also took part in the latest instances of removal of the signs.