Office of the President of Republic of Croatia

Statement from the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the

Council of Europe

President Martinez: Croatia to respect human right

Strasbourg, 8 August 1995 - While deploring a military action which

violates United Nations Security Council resolutios, Miguel Angel

Martinez, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of

Europe, today joined Czech President Havel in expressing

"understanding for Croatia's decision to exercise its right as a

sovereign State to re-establish governement control over what is,

after all, a part of its territory recognised by all nations and by

the international community".

"Croatia , whose admission to the Council of Europe is currently under

discussion by the Parliamentary Assembly, will be judged by the way in

which it excercises this right of every sovereign State and especially

by its respect for human rights and the Rule of Law in this recovered

part of its territory, and in the rest of the country.Naturally, the

rights of national minorities are very much in our mind", President

Martinez added.

"Solving the humanitarian problems caused by thousands of civilians

seeking refuge in Bosnia and elsewhere must be a priority for our

governements which should give maximum support to international relief

organisation. All refugees and displaced persons should be enable to

return to their homes", he stated.

He also voiced the hope that the result of Croatia's military action

will create the conditions under which a political dialogue will be

possible to bring about a peaceful solution.