LOWER HOUSE DISCUSSES IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS

ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - At the proposal of the strongest opposition party, parliament's lower house on Friday debated the implementation of the Dayton peace accords and a special relations agreement between Croatia and Bosnia's Croat-Muslim federation. Opposition MPs, led by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, have accused the government of not having done enough to protect the rights of Croats in Bosnia and proposed convening an international conference which would settle all contentious issues in the relations among Bosnia's three constituent peoples. Explaining the government's policy towards neighbouring Bosnia, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said the government was not offering a reconstruction plan for Bosnia but was willing to discuss possible solutions with all. The government is determined to contribute to stability in Bosnia as it is of "vital interest" for Croatia, he said. The minister added the most important thing at present was to make the leadership of the Croat National Assembly and the Bosnian HDZ realise the implementation of their notion of Bosnian Croat self- government would directly damage the interests of Croats in Bosnia. Picula stressed the Croatian government would not apply the contents of the special relations agreement between Croatia and Bosnia's federation, deeming such agreements make Bosnia "unstable in the long run." The opposition's MPs endorsed the decisions on self-government the Croat National Assembly reached earlier this month, saying it was the only possible road for the disenfranchised Bosnian Croat people. The opposition's heated reaction came in the wake of a statement made by Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), one of the ruling six-party coalition, who asserted the Dayton accords legalised conquests in Bosnia and genocide over Bosniaks, the Bosnian Muslims. Former authorities in Croatia and Yugoslavia used to show an exaggerated "concern" for Bosnia which never brought anyone any good, said Kajin, adding someone should apologise and not only distance themselves for Croatia's adventurist policy in Bosnia. HDZ MPs countered by saying the former, HDZ-led government did not lead an adventurist policy but tried to protect Croats in Bosnia. A heated debate followed after Mate Granic of the Democratic Centre, the foreign minister at the time the Dayton accords were signed (1995), said the accords had been the best way to end the Bosnian war. Anto Kovacevic of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) said it had been the worst solution for Bosnian Croats and not the fairest one as it was now preventing refugees from returning to pre- war homes in Bosnia. Vesna Pusic of the ruling coalition's Croatian People's Party/Liberal Party (HNS/LS) bench endorsed Foreign Minister Picula's address and said the right to return and be constituent throughout Bosnian territory was what Bosnian Croats were interested in. She added Bosnia's internal policy had been discussed too much in the Croatian parliament, and that the MPs should primarily worry about the interest and welfare of Croatia, which implied an interest for stability in the region. Zeljko Glavan of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) said the main objection to the Dayton accords was its failure to implement its civilian component, which refers to the three people's equality and quality of being constituent. His party believes that Croatia, as a signatory to the accords and a United Nations member, has the right to supervise the implementation of the accords. Zdravko Tomac said on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the strongest in the ruling coalition, the party objected to decisions reached against the Dayton accords and Bosnia's Constitution, whether on the part of the international community or Bosnian Croats. After the debate, the lower house will adopt conclusions which, judging by the disputes, might remain without a consensus. (hina) ha sb