RACAN: WE HAVE FEARED SUCH DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Commenting on the decision of the international community's High Representative to Bosnia- Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch to sack Ante Jelavic, the Croat member of the Bosnia's three-man Presidency, Croatia's Premier Ivica Racan said he had feared such developments would take place. On Wednesday evening he announced that Croatia would intensify its bids to help find a solution to the current crisis in Bosnia. "We cautioned the leadership of the Croatian Democratic Union of B- H (HDZ BiH) against resorting to extremism and making hasty decisions in such a complicated situation. Unfortunately, this was what happened at the Mostar meeting (last Saturday) and the international community has reacted in this ways via its envoys," Racan explained. Last Saturday the Croat National Assembly (HNS), led by the HDZ BiH, adopted a decision on the establishment of an inter-cantonal and inter-municipal council as temporary Croat self-government in the Croat-dominated areas of the country. Croatia's PM stressed the incumbent Croatian government would continue making efforts aimed at the stabilisation of Bosnia, describing it as Zagreb's interest. He expressed hope that other factors would also continue making such efforts. "To resolve those problems is more important than the position of any of us," Racan stressed. Asked whether his cabinet would discuss the situation in Bosnia at tomorrow's session in Rijeka, Racan answered in the negative. "The government is bound to do all it can to ensure a better life to the citizens of this country and better functioning of the state and we must not let anything hamper us in performing this task," he added. Racan reiterated that Croatia did not want to arbitrate in matters of the neighbouring country. (hina) ms