TOMAC CALLS ON OSCE TO RECONSIDER ITS POLICY TOWARDS BOSNIA

VIENNA, Feb 23 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should critically reconsider its policy towards Bosnia-Herzegovina, a Croatian official, Zdravko Tomac said on Friday's session of the permanent committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna. The committee, consisting of the heads of the parliamentary delegations of 54 OSCE member-states, is considering activities of this international organisation in 2000 and drawing up plans for the next year. On this occasion Tomac, the head of the Croatian parliamentary delegation, suggested a critical review of decisions OSCE officials made pertaining to Bosnia-Herzegovina. During his speech Tomac asserted that "the rights of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina to the equality have been breached with elections rules, unilaterally adopted by the OSCE, which made it impossible for the Croat people to elect, on its own, its representatives to the House of Nations." After that it was concluded that Croatia, a signatory to the Dayton peace accords and in compliance with its rights and commitments, should give an extensive explanation of the problems which cropped in the meantime and propose possible resolution. Deputy Sabor Speaker Tomac accepted the commitment to expound causes of the problems and propose possible settlement very soon. During his speech the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly's chairman, Lord Russel Johnson, supported very much Croatia's policy toward the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Croatia was pointed out as an example for the regulation of the status of national minorities. Many speakers cited Croatia as an important factor which contributed to the stabilisation and democratisation of the entire region. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's session is being chaired by Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana who informed parliamentarians of all hot spots and the situation in Kosovo. (hina) ms