FATE OF BOSNIAN CROATS IN QUESTION?

MOSTAR, March 30 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina is currently in crisis because of the decision of the newly-established Croat National Congress (HNS) led by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) about calling on resignations of all Croat representatives in all Bosnian state bodies, as well as because of the disbanding of the Croat component of the Bosnian federation Army, the HVO (Croatian Defence Council). The HNS reacted Friday to a request of the Bosnian Federation Defence Minister, Mijo Antic, who called on HVO members to return to their barracks. In a statement, the HNS calls Anic an "illegal and illegitimate minister", describing his appeal to the soldiers as an attempt to dismantle the Croat corps in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following a decision by the HNS, some 8,000 HVO soldiers left barracks and military training centres on Thursday. Commenting on the rift in the Croat ethnic corps, deputy High representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina Matthias Sonn, expressed concern for the future of Croats in the country. People must understand that the international community cannot allow the creation of an unconstitutional and maybe even a criminal para-state in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sonn told a news conference in Mostar. He stressed that the hasty HDZ adventure could harm Croats, while, at the same time, a handful of self-satisfied HDZ profiteers have villas in Split, luxury apartments and accounts in foreign banks. He criticised the HDZ for refusing to take part in the work of constitutional commissions whose work Sonn described as a historic opportunity to protect vital national interests. He repeated an appeal to Croat representatives to participate in the government authorities, including those from HDZ ranks, within the framework o the Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bosnian Federation laws. (hina) lml sb