SARAJEVO MEDIA COMMENT ON DEADLINE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

SARAJEVO, April 18 (Hina) - The parliaments of Bosnia's two entities have until 5 pm today to adopt amendments to their constitutions, the Sarajevo daily press said on Thursday. In the contrary, the amendments will be proclaimed by the international community's High Representative in Bosnia. #L# High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch demanded this from the top officials of the Federation and Republika Srpska yesterday, Oslobodjenje and Jutarnje Novine said. He announced the Peace Implementation Council's Steering Committee would convene after the deadline and pass appropriate decisions. An unnamed source from Petritsch's office told Oslobodjenje the Steering Committee did not incline to impose solutions as it wanted Bosnia's authorities to assume responsibility for the implementation of constitutional amendments. If the final deadline, however, is not complied with, all options are open, the source said. Bosnia's Election Commission should hold a session tonight. Under the election law, this body must schedule a ballot at least 170 days before the holding. This deadline expires today. It has been announced a decision on the Oct. 5 election will be issued tonight after 10 pm. Representatives of the Party of Democratic Action and the Croatian Democratic Union have announced they will not vote for the amendments moved by the Federation's government. Serbian parties have cautiously announced they might adopt "technical changes" which would harmonise previously adopted amendments to a March 27 agreement on constitutional changes. (hina) ha