MOSTAR/SARAJEVO, Sept 11 (Hina) - The Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference in Bosnia-Herzegovina has announced that it will support the Bosnian Croat people's right to hold a referendum on the protection of its vital interests and
fundamental conditions for its survival in that country, if principles on the protection of their cultural and religious identity are not respected.
MOSTAR/SARAJEVO, Sept 11 (Hina) - The Roman Catholic Bishops'
Conference in Bosnia-Herzegovina has announced that it will
support the Bosnian Croat people's right to hold a referendum on the
protection of its vital interests and fundamental conditions for
its survival in that country, if principles on the protection of
their cultural and religious identity are not respected. #L#
After an extra-ordinary session in Travnik on Wednesday, the
leading Bosnian Catholic dignitaries issued a statement on
Thursday in response to the latest administrative and political
pressures which, they say, representatives of the international
community have been exerting on the Bosnian Croat political and
educational organisations in an attempt to create a new school
system.
The bishops were referring to school unification in the country.
"We feel our share of historic responsibility in preserving and
cherishing the religious, moral and cultural identity of the Croat
Catholic people in Bosnia-Herzegovina," read the statement signed
by Sarajevo Archbishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, and the bishops of
Banja Luka and Mostar, Franjo Komarica and Ratko Peric.
In the lengthy statement, the bishops stressed the need for
launching school reforms in line with European standards, and cited
in detail the rights which Bosnian Croats should be able to
exercise.
The Croat people has "the inalienable right to preserve and promote
its national, cultural and religious identity".
The Croats have the historical and constitutional right to have
pre-school institutions and schools where their children will be
taught in the Croatian language, reads the statement.
The bishops warn that the ongoing reform with 'the common core
subjects' in the 'common language' causes confusion and is
incident-prone.
The dignitaries stress that the Croat people in the country has the
right to the press and electronic media in the Croatian language and
Latin script.
Croat children have the right to attend religious classes at
school, the statement added.
The bishops welcome endeavours aimed at amending the Dayton peace
accords, and urge Bosnian Croat representatives to ask
international diplomats to rectify the injustice and damage done to
the Croat people under the said agreement.
(hina) ms