Doc. 9070
27 April 2001

Suspension of the rights of the Italian minority in Croatia

Written Declaration No. 325

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Condemn the Croatian authorities’ recent decision to suspend, on a provisional basis, the articles of the Istria Statute that guarantee fundamental rights for the Italian minority and parity between the Italian and Croatian languages;

      Are deeply concerned by this new situation, which risks undoing Croatia’s progress towards integration in the European organisations and the complete democratisation of its political life, a process begun and developed under favourable auspices since the democratic elections in 2000;

      Hope that Croatia’s Constitutional Court will very soon be able to rule in favour of complete restoration of the previously established rights, which conformed to the Council of Europe’s norms on the protection of national minorities.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹ :

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Aleffi, Italy, EPP/CD

Arzilli, San Marino, EPP/CD

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Durrieu, France, SOC

Ehrmann, France, LDR

Lauricella, Italy, SOC

López González, Spain, SOC

Mariot, France, SOC

Pinggera, Italy, EPP/CD

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

De Puig, Spain, SOC

Rizzi, Italy, EPP/CD

Robol, Italy, EPP/CD

Solé Tura, Spain, SOC

Stepová, Czech Republic, SOC

Torrado, Spain, SOC

Turini, Italy, EDG

Vella, Malta, EPP/CD

_________________

Total = 21

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group