Sanader, minorities on brink of deal

National minority representatives have almost reached agreement with Ivo Sanader over entering the Croatian government. In talks with the incumbent prime minister over a possible coalition, they agreed five points of the agreement, while two are still to be discussed, members of the Czech, Slovak and Italian minorities in parliament informed Hina. Sanader, minorities on brink of deal According to Hina, representatives of the Serb minority, Vojislav Stanimirovic and Milorad Pupovac, also took part, and they too confirmed that progress had been achieved. A parliamentary official of the Czech and Slovak minority Zdenka Cuhnil explained that talks were focused on the agreement which would, for the most part, apply to all minorities, while the annexes would regulate issues particular to each individual ethnic group. As a condition for the Independent Democratic Serb Party’s (SDSS) support, the party vice-president, Pupovac, said that the government would have to be stable and effective, both in terms of manifesto and composition, adding that the SDSS would offer its best people, which he expected from the other parties. He reflected that this year’s talks had been more complex and difficult, though he hoped that an agreement would be reached. As a joint demand of minority MPs, the SDSS vice-president cited “the abolition of segregation” in minority voting, the introduction of bilingualism, and settlement of the status and funding of organs of minority self-government, employment of minorities proportionate to their number, development of regions populated by minorities, and the ratification of agreements with each individual ethnic group. Among the particular Serb demands were the return of refugees, housing and validation of parallel employment records, as well as development of regions populated by returnees.

Sanader, minorities on brink of deal

According to Hina, representatives of the Serb minority, Vojislav Stanimirović and Milorad Pupovac, also took part, and they too confirmed that progress had been achieved.

A parliamentary official of the Czech and Slovak minority Zdenka Cuhnil explained that talks were focused on the agreement which would, for the most part, apply to all minorities, while the annexes would regulate issues particular to each individual ethnic group.

As a condition for the Independent Democratic Serb Party’s (SDSS) support, the party vice-president, Pupovac, said that the government would have to be stable and effective, both in terms of manifesto and composition, adding that the SDSS would offer its best people, which he expected from the other parties.

He reflected that this year’s talks had been more complex and difficult, though he hoped that an agreement would be reached.

As a joint demand of minority MPs, the SDSS vice-president cited “the abolition of segregation” in minority voting, the introduction of bilingualism, and settlement of the status and funding of organs of minority self-government, employment of minorities proportionate to their number, development of regions populated by minorities, and the ratification of agreements with each individual ethnic group.

Among the particular Serb demands were the return of refugees, housing and validation of parallel employment records, as well as development of regions populated by returnees.