Davor Ivankovic

Croatia

Vecernji List, 6 December

ABSTRACT: After the war, Croatia maintains its humanitarian and civil positions and believes it does not have the right to sentence to death, not even the criminals guilty of mass exterminations. It is not easy.

("HANDS OFF CAIN", 1 February 1994)

A few months ago, during the U.N. conference on human rights in Vienna, a petition to the United Nations was presented, signed by 50,000 citizens, Nobel Prize winners, politicians, scientists, cultural personalties from all over the world. The signatories of the petition believe that, on the eve of the new millenium, the right not to be killed following a sentence or judicial measure should be confirmed and introduced in the laws of all countries of the world and in the fundamental documents of the International community.

After a horrible war, a genocide and the countless crimes against humanity committed against its citizens, Croatia has not relinquished its humanitarian and civil positions. The Croatian state does not have the right to sentence to death, not even the criminals guilty of mass exterminations. This is an official decision for a state such as ours, but it once again proves the loyalty of the customs of the modern and civilized era and the respect of the civil rights. Today, as Croatia is accused of violating the fundamental human rights, this deliberation which confirms the exact opposite must be strongly supported...It is estimated that in the entire Europe by 1995/96 it will be possible to achieve an intermediate objective: the non-application of the death penalty. To that end it will be necessary to obtain the agreement of the Baltic countries, of Russia and Bulgaria.

Extremely important is the position of the Vatican, since the New Catechism expresses theses in favour of the legitimacy of the death penalty.