SARAJEVO, Oct 13 (Hina) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) will continue fighting for a single Bosnia-Herzegovina in which the Bosniak people will not have to walk with their heads bowed any more, Alija Izetbegovic said at a party
congress in Sarajevo on Saturday. More than 1,000 representatives gathered at the 3rd party congress to support announced changes in the party's political profile and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's state structures and limiting the powers currently exercised by its two entities. Izetbegovic, who has headed the party since its establishment in 1990, confirmed he would no longer run for the presidency. Sulejman Tihic, a party vice-president, is expected to replace Izetbegovic. Izetbegovic called on party members to support constitutional reforms in the country and suggested concrete measures to be taken in order to strengthen the bodies of state authority. He indirectl
SARAJEVO, Oct 13 (Hina) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) will
continue fighting for a single Bosnia-Herzegovina in which the
Bosniak people will not have to walk with their heads bowed any
more, Alija Izetbegovic said at a party congress in Sarajevo on
Saturday.
More than 1,000 representatives gathered at the 3rd party congress
to support announced changes in the party's political profile and
initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's state structures
and limiting the powers currently exercised by its two entities.
Izetbegovic, who has headed the party since its establishment in
1990, confirmed he would no longer run for the presidency. Sulejman
Tihic, a party vice-president, is expected to replace
Izetbegovic.
Izetbegovic called on party members to support constitutional
reforms in the country and suggested concrete measures to be taken
in order to strengthen the bodies of state authority.
He indirectly announced the launching of an initiative to change
the Dayton peace agreement by saying the document was a product of
the effect of sheer force and the international community's
attitude toward Bosnia during the war.
He slammed the ruling Alliance for Changes, particularly its Social
Democrats (SDP), saying they were acting in a classical communist
manner, replacing the competent ones with opportunists.
He called on the international community to gradually prepare the
ground for withdrawal from the country in the next five to ten
years.
Izetbegovic believes the international community has made a
serious mistake by changing election rules before the 2000 vote,
which has led to a political crisis which is still present.
"The state cannot be stable without authentic representatives of
the Croat people," he said, alluding to the fact that the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) was thrown out of the executive authority
despite its election results.
The congress is expected to support a party leadership proposal
regarding the introduction of the "Bosnian nation."
Izetbegovic said this proposal would give the citizens a chance to
confirm their support for Bosnia without bringing into question
their ethnic identity.
"I believe this idea will be supported by all Bosniaks and a large
number of Serbs and Croats, particularly those from mixed
marriages," he said.
(hina) rml