Zagreb, July 6, 2003 (IKA) – Contracts on matters of common interest among the Croatian Government and the Evangelical, Reformed Christian, Pentecostal, Christian Adventist and Baptist Churches in Croatia, according to which relations are specified in the area of child rearing, education, culture, pastoral care for believers in jails, prisons, reform schools, hospitals, health institutions, and institutions for social welfare, as well as for believers who are members of the armed forces and police, with the intention of creating and maintaining better conditions for religious activity, were signed on Friday, July 4, in the Ceremonial Hall of the Croatian Government Building in Zagreb. The contracts were signed on behalf of the Government by Prime Minister Ivica Račan, on behalf of the Evangelical Churches by Branko Berić; the bishop of the Reformed Church, Endre Langh; the president of the Pentecostal Church, Dr. Peter Kuzmić; the president of the Adventist Church, Miroslav Lorencin; and the president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Croatia, Toma Magda. One of the contracts also included four other churches: the Church of God, Christ’s Church, the Reformed Movement of the Seventh Day Adventists and the Association of Chirst’s Pentecostal Churches in Croatia.

The deputy premier and president of the Government Commission for Relations with the Religious Communities, Dr. Goran Granić, expressed his joy that after six months of discussion two contracts had been prepared between the Government and the Churches of the heritage of the Reformation, thanking all who had participated for their patience and persistence in arriving at a solution satisfactory to all parties. He explained that the original idea had been one contract but taking into account the differences and interests of the Churches, their sizes and canonic differences, it was decided that two contracts would be prepared. According to Dr. Granić, the contracts confirmed the activities of the Reformed Churches in Croatia and the general good which they contribute. He also said that the Government is continuing discussions with the Jewish Community and the smaller Churches in Croatia. Prime Minister Račan expressed his satisfaction on the signing of the contracts, stating that he agreed that one of the key tests of every democracy is posed by the relationship among the minorities and it is important for Croatia to pass this test. In statements to journalists, the high officials of the Churches which had signed the contracts expressed their satisfaction.
The signing of the contracts was also attended by high officials from other religious communities: the general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Msgr. Vjekoslav Huzjak; the Serbian Orthodox metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana and all of Italy, Jovan Pavlović, the Serbian Orthodox Archpriest Regent of Zagreb, Milenko Popović; the president of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Ševko Omerbašić, and the chief rabbi of Croatia, Kotel Dadon.