BH FEDERATION: TALKS ON ARMY CRISIS DEADLOCKED

MOSTAR, June 11 (Hina) - A negotiating team of the Croat component of the joint Croat-Muslim Army of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina said on Monday talks with the Federation Defence Ministry on resolving the crisis in the army "have become deadlocked" due to political tricks of Defence Minister Mijo Anic. In mid-May, senior Croat officers who represent self-disbanded Croat Defence Council (HVO) troops and the Federation Defence Ministry reached an agreement on the return of all self-disbanded Croat soldiers to their barracks and the implementation of other parts of the agreement. "We fear the talks have failed. Under the current conditions, the negotiating team of the Croat military component is no longer able to participate in talks with the other side failing to abide by the previously reached agreements and doing all it can to eliminate the Croat component of the Federation Army," reads a statement issued by the negotiating team of the Croat military component, which is made up of senior Bosnian Croat officers. The statement further reads that the Defence Ministry has in the meantime continued blackmailing some individuals forcing them to declare loyalty and sign new contracts, which has culminated with criminal charges. The Federation Defence Ministry has set a deadline of June 15 for all soldiers to renew their contracts or they will lose their jobs, and pressed charges against 21 Croat officers and senior political and defence ministry officials. (hina) sb rml