ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - We are withdrawing the news item HNA2155 "Bosnian Croat Soldiers Form Into Ranks". Following is the corrected version:MOSTAR, May 11 (Hina) - Members of the Croat Defence Council (HVO) lined up on Friday in a
dozen towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina where they were deployed before their self-disbanding in March, saying they would return to barracks in ten days if the preservation of the Croat military component was not ensured. They also requested return to their duties and that an end be put to disputes among Croat soldiers and people. According to sources in the disbanded HVO, 90 percent of Croat soldiers turned out for the line-up, which is more than 6,500 soldiers out of a total of 7,225 troops the Croat military component numbers since April 10. The Defence Ministry of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina has announced that 3,000 Croats have renewed their contracts and ex
ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - We are withdrawing the news item HNA2155
"Bosnian Croat Soldiers Form Into Ranks". Following is the
corrected version:
MOSTAR, May 11 (Hina) - Members of the Croat Defence Council (HVO)
lined up on Friday in a dozen towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina where they
were deployed before their self-disbanding in March, saying they
would return to barracks in ten days if the preservation of the
Croat military component was not ensured. They also requested
return to their duties and that an end be put to disputes among Croat
soldiers and people.
According to sources in the disbanded HVO, 90 percent of Croat
soldiers turned out for the line-up, which is more than 6,500
soldiers out of a total of 7,225 troops the Croat military component
numbers since April 10.
The Defence Ministry of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina has
announced that 3,000 Croats have renewed their contracts and
expressed loyalty to the new authorities.
In a letter which was read out today to HVO troops who lined up
mostly on football fields and not barracks, in line with
instructions of the Stabilisation Force, the disbanded HVO seeks
guarantees for the preservation and independence of the Croat
military component in the Bosnia-Herzegovina armed forces.
It also demands that integration processes in the (Croat-Muslim)
Federation Army be stopped until a political agreement on the
future of Bosnia's armed forces is reached as well as that
radicalisation and division in the HVO cease and that talks on
resolving the current crisis be initiated. The HVO also calls on
international representatives to contribute to a fair solution.
The disbanded HVO holds decisions adopted by Federation Defence
Minister Mijo Anic illegal, particularly his decisions and plans
regarding the reduction of HVO troops by more than 50 percent. The
HVO further accuses Anic of cronyism and of re-employing
demobilised soldiers.
Today's line-up is not directed against the Serb and Bosniak
peoples "with whom we want to build peace and a safe future," reads
the letter.
HVO soldiers left their barracks in March at the instigation of the
Croat National Congress, opposing "the illegal and illegitimate"
federal authorities in Sarajevo. Today's line-up was organised by
the Headquarters for the protection of the dignity and interests of
the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
(hina) rml