CATHOLIC CHURCH, BH CROAT OFFICIALS INSIST ON CRO. LANGUAGE, CATHOLIC CATECHISM IN SCHOOLS

MOSTAR, Sept 6 (Hina) - Bosnian Croat officials and representatives of the Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday issued a statement in Mostar pointing out international institutions were trying to contest the Bosnian Croats' right to Catholic catechism, the Croatian language, and the Latin alphabet in schools. The statement was written by representatives of the Catholic Church, the ministers of science, education, culture, and sports in BH's Croat-Muslim federation and its cantons, and representatives of Mostar's Education Bureau. They point to attempts by international institutions to replace in BH's future public school system confessional catechism with the subject Culture and Religion, rejecting it as a possibility. They also claim there are "lasting and open" attempts to contest the Bosnian Croat people's right to exercise and build a Croatian educational system based on two fundamental points: the Croatian language and the Latin alphabet. The letter further says the signatories are intent on continuing to "build and develop their educational system in line with the rights and interests of its people and according to the democratic standards of modern society." (hina) ha jn