TFIZ01: GOC STATEMENT ON THE FALL OF IRAQI REGIME

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000824 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM HR IZ SUBJECT: TFIZ01: GOC STATEMENT ON THE FALL OF IRAQI REGIME ¶1. ON APRIL 11, THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA ISSUED A STATEMENT COMMENTING ON THE FALL OF BAGHDAD AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE IRAQI REGIME. THE STATEMENT (FULL TEXT BELOW) HAILS THE END OF THE REGIME AS A CHANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AS WELL AS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. THE STATEMENT ALSO REITERATES CROATIA'S WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO RECONSTRUCTION AND CALLS FOR A UN ROLE IN ASSURING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN POST-CONFLICT IRAQ. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT OF GOC STATEMENT: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ASSESSES THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DICTATORSHIP REGIME AS A GOOD CHANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AS WELL AS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE WIDER REGION. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA HOPES THAT MILITARY OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE SUFFERING OF IRAQI CITIZENS, ALLIANCE SOLDIERS, JOURNALISTS, AND OTHER VICTIMS, WILL SOON BE OVER. IN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN IRAQ, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC PEACE AND ORDER, THE TRUE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN WHICH THE UN SHOULD HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE, IS OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA EXPECTS IRAQ TO BE CONSTITUTED AS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY WITH THE RULE OF LAW, WHICH WILL ENABLE A PEACEFUL AND DIGNIFIED LIFE TO ALL ITS CITIZENS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA PASSED A DECISION ON APRIL 3, 2002 ON SENDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ'S WAR-AFFECTED POPULATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 20 MILLION KUNA, AND ARRANGEMENTS ABOUT ITS SPEEDY DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION ARE CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED. THE GOVERNMENT REITERATES THE WILLINGNESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA TO PARTICIPATE IN REMOVING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR AND IN THE ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ. END TEXT. ROSSIN NNNN