SARAJEVO, Feb 24 (Hina) - The Dayton peace agreement must be implemented in its entirety before serious negotiations on its changes begin, spokesmen of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Thursday. Commenting on media reports that Bosnia's Croatian Democratic Union, the largest Bosnian Croat party, was seriously considering changing Bosnia's internal structure, including the abolition of one of its entities, the Croat-Muslim federation, OHR spokesman James Ferguson told reporters the notion required changes to the state and federation constitutions as well. The abolition of the federation would require the transfer of its authorities onto the state level, with a stronger role on the cantons' part. Mechanisms for changes in the constitution are clear and can be effected if all sides agree to it
SARAJEVO, Feb 24 (Hina) - The Dayton peace agreement must be
implemented in its entirety before serious negotiations on its
changes begin, spokesmen of the Office of the High Representative
(OHR) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Thursday.
Commenting on media reports that Bosnia's Croatian Democratic
Union, the largest Bosnian Croat party, was seriously considering
changing Bosnia's internal structure, including the abolition of
one of its entities, the Croat-Muslim federation, OHR spokesman
James Ferguson told reporters the notion required changes to the
state and federation constitutions as well.
The abolition of the federation would require the transfer of its
authorities onto the state level, with a stronger role on the
cantons' part.
Mechanisms for changes in the constitution are clear and can be
effected if all sides agree to it, Ferguson said, pointing out the
OHR did not intend on interfering or directly supporting such
initiatives.
Sarajevo media today dedicated special attention to the news that
Bosnian Presidency member Ante Jelavic had spoken to Stabilisation
Force chief commander Ronald Adams, voicing concern over the
current situation in the federation.
Jelavic reportedly announced willingness to reduce the
federation's authorities or even abolish them, on condition that
decision-making on the principles of parity and consensus be
retained, namely that the cantons' role be strengthened.
"Dnevni Avaz" reported on the Jelavic-Adams meeting under the
headline "Jelavic Advocates Abolition of Federation of BH".
Bosnian Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic's adviser on the
media, Adamir Jerkovic, in a special statement issued on Wednesday
described the cantonisation of the entire Bosnia-Herzegovina as a
notion worthy of support.
According to Jerkovic, the notion will be feasible once the Bosnian
Constitutional Court proclaims that Bosnia's three peoples are
constituent throughout the country.
Bosnian Serbs have thus far resolutely opposed the cantonisation
notion, claiming it would lead to the disappearance of Republika
Srpska, Bosnia's Serb entity.
(hina) ha mm