MOSTAR, June 2 (Hina) - The Croat National Congress (HNS) on Friday criticised criminal charges pressed against 18 former officials of the Croat-Muslim federal Defence Ministry, claiming that such an act demonstrated that the
incumbent Defence Minister Mijo Anic did not want to settle the current crisis in the functioning of the federal ministry through negotiations. If the charges are not withdrawn in the coming three days, the HNS (led by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina or HDZ) cautions that it will be a sign that for both the Alliance for Changes (the ruling coalition in Bosnia) and Minister Anic it is more important to see conflict than agreement. The HNS claims that the charges are unfounded and that they reflect the incapability of those who have preferred them. The HNS, under whose decision HDZ party members still boycott the constitution and work of the new bodies of author
MOSTAR, June 2 (Hina) - The Croat National Congress (HNS) on Friday
criticised criminal charges pressed against 18 former officials of
the Croat-Muslim federal Defence Ministry, claiming that such an
act demonstrated that the incumbent Defence Minister Mijo Anic did
not want to settle the current crisis in the functioning of the
federal ministry through negotiations.
If the charges are not withdrawn in the coming three days, the HNS
(led by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina or HDZ)
cautions that it will be a sign that for both the Alliance for
Changes (the ruling coalition in Bosnia) and Minister Anic it is
more important to see conflict than agreement.
The HNS claims that the charges are unfounded and that they reflect
the incapability of those who have preferred them.
The HNS, under whose decision HDZ party members still boycott the
constitution and work of the new bodies of authority established
after the Bosnian last general elections, maintains that the
charges are "the act of eliminating high-ranking Croat officials
from the federal Defence Ministry, so that they cannot return to
office they held before."
The Bosnian Federation's Defence Ministry on Friday filed charges
against the 18 former ministry officials for abuse of office.
In a statement issued in Sarajevo, the Ministry states the charges
were forwarded to the federal prosecutor and relate to people who
held offices of assistant minister or department head at the time
the federal defence minister was Miroslav Prce.
All of the charged 18 refused to perform the official turnover of
duty, and are accused of having stolen or destroyed official
vehicles, mobile telephones and other equipment.
Among the accused are three Bosnian Federation Army generals.
The Defence Ministry earlier pressed charges against the former
member of the Bosnian Presidency, Ante Jelavic, former federal
defence minister Miroslav Prce and former deputy commanding
officer of the federal Army, Dragan Curcic. The three are suspected
of undermining the Bosnian Federation's power of defence, as they
are held responsible for dismissing the Bosnian Croat component of
the federal army.
(hina) ms