DECISION ON TEMPORARY SELF-GOVERNMENT OF CROAT AREAS TO BE IN MOSTAR?

MOSTAR, March 2 (Hina) - The Croat National Assembly taking place in Mostar tomorrow will be suggested to adopt a decision on the establishment of a temporary self-government of Bosnian areas mostly populated by Croats, a senior official of the Assembly told Hina, under condition of anonymity. He said the decision, if adopted, will not be recognised by authorities of the Alliance for Change -- a multi-party coalition headed by the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Documents expected to be adopted at the meeting will stipulate the non-recognition of decisions of the High Representative to Bosnia- Herzegovina regarding the areas of self-government, the source said. The Assembly officials have explained the highest body of self- government will be the president of self-government, the establishment of a temporary executive council, a temporary legislative body and a temporary judicial council is planned. The Assembly officials announced the territory of self-government will collect taxes, customs and excise duty for the self-government needs, while the taxes will cease to be delivered into the Bosnian Federation budget. According to the officials, Croat areas have been financing 60 percent of the federal budget, of which only a third of the funds have bee restored. After the founding of the temporary self-government, members of parties comprising the Assembly will not participate in federal bodies. According to the senior official, bodies of the temporary self- government will establish monitoring over police and military forces in mostly Croat areas, and should the SFOR block HVO (Croatian Defence Council) military barracks and prevent the takeover of control, there is the possibility of dissolving the HVO. All countries, signatories to the Dayton Agreement, will be invited to the convention on Saturday to organise a new conference which will focus on modalities of changing the Dayton peace accords. Officials at the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina( HDZ) have confirmed that Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan and president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party Drazen Budisa spoke with the party president, Ante Jelavic, and warned about making radical moves. They advised space for dialogue should be left. However, the HDZ said the plan which will be decided on at the convention in Mostar is expected to contribute only to the internal reorganisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, not its division. The HDZ leadership has informed the United States, Council of Europe member countries and all foreign Ambassadors accredited in Bosnia-Herzegovina about the plan, it has been said. (hina) lml