Dear Lord Carrington,

You may be aware that Dr. Seselj Vojislav who is a parliamentary representative, an influential politician and the commander of a well-trained and effective military unit which represents a large military force, threatened the Croatians of Voivodina with reprisals in a recent parliamentary speech. In addition, he warned ethnic Hungarians, who have been the objects of the war propaganda and have fled from the forced conscriptions, not to return home.

Democratic-minded Serbian public opinion has objected on behalf of the Croatians, but no one has yet protested the threats made against Hungarians. All of this renders evident those dangers about which I have already written to Your Excellency. Namely, the forced alteration of Voivodina's ethnic Croatians could become a reality within a short period of time. Since neither ethnic Croatians nor ethnic Hungarians have aims, both defencelessly await either the betterment or fulfilment of their fate with trepidation.

Mr. Seselj's threats are particularly severe. The severity is reinforced by the fact that only two parliamentarians objected to his speech. The leaders of the Serbian Socialist Party oppose Mr. Seselj's pronouncements by referring to constitutional provisions. Although they denounce his views, they also call attention to the pronouncements of minority leaders and organizations - falsely labelling them fascist - and thereby justifying this influential representative. It is well-known that only two legitimate minority organizations function in Voivodina: the DCHV and the Democratic Alliance of Croatians in Voivodina. The charge of fascism against these organizations and its leaders is often voiced in mass media organs which are under the jurisdiction of the authorities. We are convinced that this is merely due to the fact that both organizations have - in keeping with the Paris Charter - opposed the civil war and the same time accepted Your Excellency's Hague Document upon which they base their demands for rights.

Considering the legal ramifications of Mr. Seselj's pronouncements, it is highly unsettling that the president of the republic, Slobodan Milosevic, not only praises Mr. Seselj and his party to this day, but has not yet expressed an opinion on these pronouncements.

Dear Lord Carrington!

Based on the above, I respectfully request that Mr. Thierry Beauce grant us a hearing in order that the situation may be discussed and hopefully resolved.

I further ask Your Excellency to personally support the repatriation of all those refugees who have been constrained to flee the country due both to the war propaganda and the unconstitutional, forced mobilizations. They should be allowed to return home peacefully and without suffering any harm or repercussions. Repatriation and the cessation of the forced mobilizations would influence the resolution and to a large extent strengthen the rule of law.András µgoston, President, DCHV