HIGH REP. APPOINTS NEW COMMISSION FOR REORGANISATION OF MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Sept 15 (Hina) - Six weeks after the Commission for the Reorganisation of Mostar unsuccessfully ended its mandate, the international community's High Representative in Bosnia has decided to appoint a new commission to draw up a proposal for the unification of this southern city by Dec. 15. #L# The process of Mostar's unification must be started immediately because it is significant for both the city and for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown told reporters on Monday. He appointed international representative Norbert Wirtestein to head the commission. The first commission was dominated by national parties. The Muslim officials of the Party of Democratic Action boycotted its work, objecting to the abolishment of three municipalities with a majority Muslim and three with a majority Croat population, which they claimed would bring Muslims in a subordinate position. The new commission is comprised of representatives of all six parties in the Mostar City Council, said Ashdown, adding that Wirtestein would appoint six experts. The six parties' representatives today signed a document binding them to participate in decision-making about Mostar's future. Ashdown said that eight years after the war, he was optimistic regarding the unification of Mostar. (hina) ha