SARAJEVO, Feb 8 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch, expects that the victory of Stipe Mesic at the Croatian presidential election will ensure not only a better
cooperation between his office (OHR) and the new authority in Zagreb but also result in the improvement of overall relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stiglmayer said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Sarajevo, Stiglmayer said Ambassador Petritsch had personally sent Mesic a message with congratulations on his electoral victory, expressing belief that the strengthening of the mutual cooperation would be of great importance for the further implementation of the Dayton agreement. It is important that relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina be based on principles which are valid for all sovereign countries, Stiglmayer sai
SARAJEVO, Feb 8 (Hina) - The international community's High
Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch,
expects that the victory of Stipe Mesic at the Croatian
presidential election will ensure not only a better cooperation
between his office (OHR) and the new authority in Zagreb but also
result in the improvement of overall relations between Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina, OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stiglmayer said on
Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters in Sarajevo, Stiglmayer said Ambassador
Petritsch had personally sent Mesic a message with congratulations
on his electoral victory, expressing belief that the strengthening
of the mutual cooperation would be of great importance for the
further implementation of the Dayton agreement.
It is important that relations between Croatia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina be based on principles which are valid for all
sovereign countries, Stiglmayer said, adding the OHR had nothing
against Croatia's continuing to help Bosnian Croats.
The only condition is that the help be transparent, she stressed.
The aim of the international community is for assistance to Bosnian
Croats to be provided with the best intentions and not to be misused
for goals from which only Zagreb could profit.
Recalling that the head of the UN Mission in Bosnia, Jacques Klein,
had already welcomed the establishment of the government led by
Premier Ivica Racan, UN Mission spokesman Douglas Coffmann said the
election results were the decision of Croatian citizens, however,
the international community absolutely welcomed the results.
Asked what the UN expected from the new authority regarding the
cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal (ICTY), Coffmann
said Zagreb had already given encouraging signs and concrete action
was now being expected.
OSCE spokeswoman Tanya Domi stressed the invitation of Premier
Ivica Racan to Croat officials to, if they wished to join opposition
parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina, consider the Social Democratic
Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina as well.
The head of the UNHCR Office, Werner Blatter, said he was looking
forward to cooperating with Croatia's new authorities.
That cooperation will especially be important in the context of
implementation of the Stability Pact, Blatter said, adding he was
confident that it would contribute to a speedier return of refugees
into and from Croatia.
(hina) rml