Cablegate: Osce Hdim: No Issues to Raise for Croatia

VZCZCXRO3132
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0456 1711218
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191218Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8411
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000456

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV HR OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE HDIM: NO ISSUES TO RAISE FOR CROATIA

REF: STATE 60838

(SBU) In response to reftel, Post believes the Government of
Croatia generally respects the human rights of its citizens.
Basic freedoms such as democratic elections, freedom of
religion, and freedom of press exist within the country. The
judicial system suffered from a case backlog, and trials do
not always meet the highest standard. Corruption and
transparency are also particularly problematic areas for the
government. Societal violence and discrimination against
ethnic minorities, particularly Serb and Roma, remains a
problem, but the government has taken some steps to address
these issues, and the number and severity of ethnically based
incidents have steadily decreased. Implementation of the
five year old Constitutional Law on National Minorities
remained spotty, resulting in continued discrimination in the
hiring of ethnic minorities, particularly Serbs, at the local
public administrative level. On these issues, Post will
continue engagement with the GOC bilaterally.
Bradtke

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