BH FEDERATION PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

SARAJEVO, March 12 (Hina) - The Bosnian Federation's Lower House on Tuesday began a discussion on draft amendments to the federal Constitution, proposed by the Federal government two weeks ago. Presenting the draft amendments to MPs, the Federation's president, Safet Halilovic, said they guaranteed a comprehensive implementation of a decision by the Constitutional court in Bosnia on the constituency of all three peoples in the entire state's territory. The amendments would guarantee all rights of a constituent nation for Serbs in the Federation, and representation in the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Halilovic said the federal authorities will insist, if the parliament adopts the proposed solutions, that they be included in the Constitution of Republika Srpska, as this is the only way to efficiently protect the rights of Bosniaks and Croats in this entity. Draft amendments to the Constitution of Republika Srpska have not been defined yet, and political parties' officials from both entities have been negotiating, with the mediation of the High Representative for Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch. Key issues, such as the establishment of a House of Peoples in the Serb entity, grounds for forming the executive authority, defining vital national interests, and the contentious issue of the name of the (Bosnian) language remain open. (hina) np sb