BOSNIAN HOUSE OF REPS REJECTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

SARAJEVO, April 18 (Hina) - The House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday did not adopt a bill on constitutional amendments that was to secure the implementation of the Constitutional Court ruling on all three nations being constituent on the entire territory of Bosnia because the bill was not supported by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Party of Democratic Action (SDA).#L# Only 76 of 140 MP's supported the amendments. A two-third majority was required for the bill to be adopted, however, this could not be attained because of the attitudes taken by the HDZ and SDA. Prior to the vote, HDZ MP's left the session with an explanation that they did not wish to participate in actions that marginalised the rights of the Croatian nation. MP's from the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) and Croatian Christian-Democratic Union (HKDU) followed the HDZ example and also walked out. SDA MP's remained in the hall but refrained from voting. The amendments were adopted earlier in the day by the House of Nations in the Federal Parliament, however, for them to come into force the bill had to be adopted in the House of Representatives too. The Parliament of Republika Srpska postponed the commencement of the session until the late evening hours, when they are to discuss the same bill. Most of the day was spent on discussing amendments to previously adopted constitutional amendments that were conducted with the High International Representative Wolfgang Petritsch (OHR). Ambassadors of member countries of the Administrative Committee of the Council to Implement Peace met in Sarajevo behind closed doors late Thursday afternoon to consider steps the international community can take following the blockade of constitutional amendments caused by the HDZ and SDA. (hina) sp sb