BOSNIA'S HDZ, SDA SIGN PROTOCOL ON POST-ELECTORAL COOPERATION

SARAJEVO, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ) and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) on Thursday officially confirmed an agreement on a post-election coalition, announcing measures that should lead to setting up new governments based on the results of a general election held on October 5. #L# The presidents of HDZ, Barisa Colak, and SDA, Sulejman Tihic, signed a special protocol in Sarajevo concerning inter-party co- operation. The document foresees that the two parties will work together on setting up a democratic and self-sustaining country through reforms. They announced the abolishment of parallel government structures and the reorganisation of tax and customs systems. The document notes in particular that the two parties insist on the equality of Bosnia's three constituent nations. SDA vice president Adnan Terzic had earlier forwarded an invitation to Haris Silajdzic's Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina (SBiH) to confirm if he would agree to join the coalition. The invitation was repeated again today by Sulejman Tihic, who stated that the two parties wanted to form authorities wherever possible by November 27. Both the SDA and HDZ assessed that it was possible to set up a ruling coalition in all cantons except the largest, Sarajevo, where two- thirds of the electorate decided to vote for SBiH and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Representatives of the SDA and HDZ claimed on several occasions that they could form the executive authority in the Croat-Muslim Federation without the SBiH, but they would rather have a stable, convincing majority, which is why they hoped Silajdzic would join them. Bosnia's state Presidency has announced that later this week consultations will commence with political parties for the purpose of appointing a premier designate to compose the new Council of Ministers. (hina) sp/ha sb