SARAJEVO, April 28 (Hina) - The unification of Mostar is of key significance for the international community to succeed in stabilising Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also for the position of Croatia's new authorities, the International
Crisis Group (ICG) says in a report on the situation in Mostar and Herzegovina. The 50-plus-page report analyses the history of all problems currently obstructing the situation in Mostar, with special emphasis on activities the international community has been taking since 1994, when a European Union administration office was opened in the southern Bosnian town. The report states the world has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Mostar and mediated in the reaching of almost 30 different agreements. The final outcome of those activities continues to remain below all expectations, as Mostar continues to remain divided by the same invisible line which was established
SARAJEVO, April 28 (Hina) - The unification of Mostar is of key
significance for the international community to succeed in
stabilising Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also for the position of
Croatia's new authorities, the International Crisis Group (ICG)
says in a report on the situation in Mostar and Herzegovina.
The 50-plus-page report analyses the history of all problems
currently obstructing the situation in Mostar, with special
emphasis on activities the international community has been taking
since 1994, when a European Union administration office was opened
in the southern Bosnian town.
The report states the world has invested hundreds of millions of
dollars in Mostar and mediated in the reaching of almost 30
different agreements. The final outcome of those activities
continues to remain below all expectations, as Mostar continues to
remain divided by the same invisible line which was established
during last decade's war.
According to the ICG report, the reasons for the failure are clear,
namely Bosnia's Croatian Democratic Union unilaterally terminated
every agreement of importance.
All major problems in Croat-Muslim relations in Bosnia's
Federation are tied with the status of Mostar in which, according to
the ICG, the central issue is the existence of Herceg-Bosna. There
will be no changes for the better as long as there exists an illegal
third entity, the report says.
The ICG recommends to the international community to take resolute
steps aimed at abolishing the existence of parallel bodies of
authority in Bosnia's Croat-Muslim Federation, which should be
done in cooperation with Croatia's authorities.
According to the report, the elimination of Herceg-Bosna
institutions' financial foundations is the key to success. To that
effect, the report suggests measures which would introduce the
supervision of financial courses, including directing assistance
coming from Croatia through central bodies of authority in
Sarajevo.
(hina) ha mm