II         Introduction

1.         This report is the alternative report on the implementation of the CoE Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Croatia for the implementation period 1999 – 2004.

The Republic of Croatia, a member state of the Council of Europe, ratified the Framework Convention on October 11^th, 1997. Pursuant to the article 29 paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Convention came into force on February 02, 1998. In February 1999, one year upon the ratification of the Convention, the Republic of Croatia was obliged (SECTION IV, article 25 of the Convention) to produce and submit an initial report on the implementation of the Framework Convention, the information on legislative and other measures taken in order to achieve the principles of the Framework Convention to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for their consideration

2.         In March 2004, the Republic of Croatia submitted its second regular report on the implementation of the Framework Convention to the CoE Committee of Ministers. This shadow report is an alternative source of information on the implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities and relevant national legislation and situation facing minority communities in the Republic of Croatia. The report, up to certain extent, follows the structure ofthe information elaborated in the official state report and to a degree complements it with particular examples on practical implementation of the provisions of the Framework Convention andthe relevant national legislation. While producing this report, taken into account were also the First State Report, the Opinion of the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention ref.no. ACFC/OP/I (2001)2 and the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers no. ResCMN(2002)1 on the implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Croatia.

3.         While producing this report we have used the following sources: reports and statements by local and international non-governmental organisations; reports, documents and information by relevant governmental institutions; media information; relevant national legislation; reports, opinions, statements and documents by international organisations. Information provided by non-governmental  organisations are based on data they collected through their everyday activities or collected while communicating with persons belonging to minority communities or their representatives.