U.S. EMBASSY IN BOSNIA SLAMS CROAT SELF-GOVERNMENT

SARAJEVO, March 4 (Hina) - The United States Embassy in Bosnia said on Sunday Washington would not allow a blockade of the peace process in Bosnia nor tolerate attempts to carry out the conclusions adopted by a Bosnian Croat People's Assembly yesterday. The assembly was hosted by the southern town of Mostar and proclaimed a temporary Croat self-government in areas mostly populated by Bosnian Croats as a form of protecting the their national interests until their full constitutional and true equality in Bosnia is secured. The Embassy said in a statement the international community, the U.S. included, rejected the conclusions and all possible cooperation with the self-proclaimed officials of the Bosnian Croat people. Such officials cannot represent Croats in Bosnia nor the Croat people living in Herzegovina, the statement said. The Embassy emphasised that not one people or party had the right to change Bosnia's constitutional order unilaterally or contrary to regulations of the Dayton peace agreements. We will not wait hands crossed while one group tries to preserve the political and economic privileges it is not entitled to, the statement said, adding the U.S. would cooperate with those who wanted to support the continuation of reforms in Bosnia. (hina) ha