JELAVIC ARRIVES AT COURT

SARAJEVO, Aug 29 (Hina) - A former member of the Bosnian Presidency and president of the Croatian Democratic Union party of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ), Ante Jelavic, today appeared at the Sarajevo cantonal court to give a statement regarding charges lifted against him for endangering the integrity and territorial coherence of the Bosnian Federation, and demining its defence power. In front of the court house Jelavic was greeted by a cheering crowd of some 300 HDZ sympathisers, including the most senior officials of the party, as well as of the Croat National Congress. They all carried banners describing Jelavic as a legitimate member of the Bosnian Presidency, and requesting the "cessation of communist persecutions". Jelavic told reporters he does not recognise the authorities of the cantonal court in Sarajevo, but decided to respond to the summons of the investigating judge nonetheless, as this was the best way to defend the "legitimate political interests of Croats in Bosnia- Herzegovina". The country is at the moment in complete control of the high representative Wolfgang Petritsch who is simultaneously doing the job of persecutor, judge and prosecutor, Jelavic stressed, adding this situation is "the darkest form of neo-colonial ruling". (hina) lml