IZETBEGOVIC OPPOSES VOTING OF BOSNIAN CROATS FOR CRO PRESIDENT

SARAJEVO, Jan 20 (Hina) - The Bosnia Herzegovina Presidency on Thursday approved the implementation of elections for the Croatian President on Bosnia-Herzegovina territory, even though Bosniak member of the Presidency Alija Izetbegovic voted against. Chairman of the Bosnia Herzegovina Presidency Ante Jelavic and member of the Presidency Zivko Radisic gave their consent that election for Croatia's President be held on Bosnia-Herzegovina territory at 15 locations. They also gave their consent that, if necessary, the second round of elections be held. Izetbegovic's advisor for foreign policy Mirza Hajric told reporters in Sarajevo that the fact that the Bosniak member of the presidency voted against the implementation of Croatia's presidential election on Bosnia-Herzegovina territory was a matter of principles. "President Izetbegovic is against the voting of Bosnian Croats because they are a constituent nation in Bosnia-Herzegovina", Hajric said and added that in Izetbegovic's opinion, Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina should realise their rights in Bosnia- Herzegovina and its institutions and not through institutions of another state. Hajric expressed expectation that the issue of the participation of Bosnia-Herzegovina citizens in Croatia's elections would be regulated by an international agreement on dual citizenship, which could be achieved with the new Croatian Government. (hina) it mm