ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan expressed "regret and condemnation" for decisions of the Croat National Assembly made in Mostar Saturday, and stressed that despite "hasty decisions", open issues in
Bosnia-Herzegovina must continue to be solved through dialogue.
ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan
expressed "regret and condemnation" for decisions of the Croat
National Assembly made in Mostar Saturday, and stressed that
despite "hasty decisions", open issues in Bosnia-Herzegovina must
continue to be solved through dialogue. #L#
"On behalf of the Croatian government I express regret for the
decisions, especially for the decision on self-government, and I
wish to stress that the decisions will not contribute to a desirable
level of talks and dialogue which need to be resumed in Bosnia-
Herzegovina," Racan said at the fifth regular news conference
Monday.
"We voice regret and condemnation of decisions in Mostar which are
not on the line of a strong turning of all in Bosnia-Herzegovina
towards a policy of dialogue and talks," Racan said and announced
the government would undertake steps to resume negotiations about
open issues with factors in Bosnia and the international
community.
Accentuating Croatia's loyalty to the Dayton Agreement, Racan said
it must be followed until new and better solutions are found.
Croatia will definitely no longer carry out policy for Croats in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Racan said, but stressed Croatia does care for
stability in Bosnia "because this is also our national interest".
"Without equality among peoples there can be no stability," Racan
added.
"We believe that the policy, in Croatia and wider in this region, of
a party or an individual identifying themselves with the people or,
in the case of Croatia, with the state, has definitely been
eradicated," the prime minister said.
Asked whether the Croatian government authorities would rescind
passports for the top officials of the Croatian Democratic Union in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, should the international community demand so,
and whether Croatia would join in sanctions against the Croat self-
government in Bosnia if asked, Racan said this would be decided on
if such demands are made and action will be taken in line with
Croatian laws.
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica is on Monday signing an
agreement on special relations with the Republika Srpska entityin
Bosnia-Herzegovina, only two days from the proclaimed Croat self-
government. A possible intentional connection between these two
events could "aggravate the development of the situation in Bosnia-
Herzegovina," Racan said.
The Croat National Assembly in Mostar on Saturday proclaimed a
temporary Croat self-government in areas mostly populated by
Bosnian Croats, and suspended the authority of Bosnia-
Herzegovina's government bodies.
The participants of the meeting unanimously adopted a decision on
the establishment of an inter-cantonal and inter-municipal council
as a temporary Croat self-government in the country.
(hina) lml sb