IV        Implementation of the articles of the Convention

IV.XV

Article 17

1. The Parties undertake not to interfere with the right of persons belonging to national minorities to establish and maintain free and peaceful contacts across frontiers with persons lawfully staying in other States, in particular those with whom they share an ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity, or a common cultural heritage.

2. The Parties undertake not to interfere with the right of persons belonging to national minorities to participate in the activities of non-governmental organisations, both at the national and international levels.

National legislation (pursuant to the Article 17 of the FCNM):

Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities:

Article 16 (see under IV.III National legislation )

Law on Associations

Comments on the implementation of the Article 17 of the FCNM:

- The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on mutual, permanent, cancellation of the visa regime signed on December 5, 2003 (Instruction on Publication of the Agreement was brought on March 03, 2004) enabled the citizens of both countries in entering, exiting and moving over the other country’s territory with national ID cards for 90 days within 6 months. The citizens of Serbia and Montenegro, temporarily, till the end of 2004, do not require visas to enter the Republic of Croatia for the tourist visits up to 90 days. The Republic of Croatia did not interfere or limit the rights of persons belonging to national minorities to establish or maintain cross-border contacts.  

- The Republic of Croatia did not interfere or limit the rights of the persons belonging to national minorities to participate in non-governmental organisations’ activities at national or international levels.