U.S. ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS INCUMBENT HEAD OF MOSTAR UNIVERSITY

MOSTAR, Aug 21 (Hina) - The Administration of the United States supports the head of Mostar University, Marko Tadic, as he promotes reconciliation and tries to advance education in this southern city, said U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Thomas Miller, on Monday after his talks with Mostar Mayor and Deputy Mayor Safet Orucevic and Neven Tomic respectively. Recently eight out of 12 Mostar University Senate members demanded Chancellor Tadic's resignation, criticising him for failing to sufficiently advocate Croatian interests and for showing accommodationist views towards the international community. Those eight members also bear a grudge against Tadic as he removed the Croat insignia from premises of the university. Chancellor Marko Tadic has refused accusations and stressed that he is in favour of transforming Mostar University according to European standards. He has confirmed that he asked that portraits of the late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, the late Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak and the late Bosnian Croat leader Mate Boban be removed from offices of the University's secretariat. Tadic has explained that his demand is in line with his attempts to preserve the autonomy of the university. Today it was officially confirmed that on 23 August (Wednesday) the Mostar University governing council would be in session to consider the request for Tadic's replacement. American diplomat Miller warned that the course of events in the Tadic case would clearly show to the U.S. Administration whether this part of Bosnia would like to opt either for the continuation of the ethnic cleansing or for becoming a part of Europe and the developed world. Miller announced for tomorrow his talks with Ante Jelavic, the Croat member of Bosnia's collective Presidency and the President of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH). In the course of the day Miller is to hold talks with Tadic as well. Mostar Deputy Mayor Neven Tomic said a possible replacement of Chancellor Tadic would be "a blow to processes in Mostar" and to him personally. Tomic added that Tadic should be offered a chance to refresh the teacher staff at the university. Mayor Orucevic said the city authorities stood by Chancellor Tadic. In addition, students at the university have expressed their support to the current Chancellor. Mostar University undergraduates' association on Monday forwarded a letter to Jelavic asking him to oppose the demand of the eight Senate members for Tadic's replacement. They asked this Bosnian Croat leader to exert his influence and persuade the University governing council not to replace Tadic. Students believe that the request for the incumbent Chancellor's resignation has been politically motivated. The ultimate consequence of such a move can be detrimental to the entire Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the undergraduates wrote to Jelavic. "The removal of Chancellor Tadic will lead to the discontinuation of all positive processes at Mostar University (such as the formation of a university library, the financing of the university, the improvement of conditions for studying and so on), whereas Mostar University will be relegated to a provincial, pitiful and marginal status," read the association's letter. The association added that they could no longer just stay on the sidelines and watch "the over-production of fake graduates who assume sensitive political offices and jobs, and owing to their lack of knowledge and professionalism, bring into question the survival of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, that is being increasingly reduced in the country due for aforementioned reasons." (hina) ms