SILAJDZIC ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL LEAVE BH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

SARAJEVO, Feb 8 (Hina) - A former Co-chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haris Silajdzic, said he would leave his post soon in the Council. In a statement carried on Monday by the Sarajevo-based Open Broadcast Network (OBN) TV station, Silajdzic said he had no intention of participating in the work of the Council in its new form after the adoption of an amended law regulating the Council's composition. In line with a decision of the BH Constitutional Court, the existence of two Co-chairmen and one Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers was declared contrary to the Constitution. The BH Parliament is expected to change the law on the Council of Ministers and introduce the institute of one chairman and two state ministers by the end of this month. The three persons occupying those offices would most probably rotate in the office of chairman. The Bosniak side, however, insisted that the number of ministries be increased and that the method of adopting decisions at the Council be changed, including the cancellation of the institute of parity and consensus. The Serb and Croat sides rejected those requests, which is most probably the reason why Silajdzic announced that he would withdraw. (hina) rml