MOSTAR'S SIX MUNICIPALITIES MOSTAR, March 15 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday officially dissolved Mostar's six municipalities, three of which had a majority
Muslim and three a majority Croat population.
MOSTAR, March 15 (Hina) - The international community's High
Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday
officially dissolved Mostar's six municipalities, three of which had a
majority Muslim and three a majority Croat population.#L#
The abolition of the southern city's six municipalities was carried
out on the basis of the new city statute, which Ashdown imposed in
late January and which envisages the unification of the until now
divided city.
Ashdown said today was an historic day for Mostar. Today Mostar has
given itself a chance to start again, he said, stressing that after
years of divisions and stagnation Mostar now had the opportunity to
move ahead.
The reorganisation of Mostar will result in a better management of
public funds, namely more money for citizens' services and less money
for local politicians, Ashdown said.
Mostar will have one mayor, one budget and a united administration, he
said, adding that mayor Hamdija Jahic and deputy mayor Ljubo Beslin
would remain at their posts until municipal elections in October.
Until the polls, the city's previous six municipal councils will be
replaced by municipal offices, Ashdown said, adding that as of today
these offices would be managed by the city council and not by
municipalities.
A new, united Mostar city council will be elected in October, Ashdown
said, stressing that under the new statute none of the constituent
peoples would be able to dominate one another. This statement was an
indirect dismissal of criticism from the Bosnian Croatian Democratic
Union party that under the new statute Croats, which account for 60
percent of Mostar's population, would have only a 42-percent share in
the city government.
Asked if he would advocate the same national equality in the
government of the Bosnian Federation -- the Croat-Muslim entity,
Ashdown said that under the Dayton peace agreement his responsibility
was to resolve the Mostar issue, not the federal government issue,
which he added was the domestic politicians' task.
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