ZAGREB, Oct 12 (Hina) - In 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina's President Alija Izetbegovic proposed to his then Croatian counterpart Franjo Tudjman to set up a confederation of the two countries, whose army would be commanded by a Croatian
General, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Thursday. President Mesic was asked by a reporter to comment on the political time marked by Alija Izetbegovic and on his profile ahead of Izetbegovic's announced departure from Bosnian three-man Presidency on Saturday. The proposal which Izetbegovic and the then Bosnian Premier Haris Silajdzic suggested to Tudjman, envisaged an agreement on the confederation between Croatia and Bosnia, provided that the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina sack all commanders whose replacement Croats asked and that (Bosnia) Croat Defence Council do the same at the request of Bosniaks (Moslems). "The HVO and the Army of BiH would be united in an army, a
ZAGREB, Oct 12 (Hina) - In 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina's President
Alija Izetbegovic proposed to his then Croatian counterpart Franjo
Tudjman to set up a confederation of the two countries, whose army
would be commanded by a Croatian General, Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic said on Thursday.
President Mesic was asked by a reporter to comment on the political
time marked by Alija Izetbegovic and on his profile ahead of
Izetbegovic's announced departure from Bosnian three-man
Presidency on Saturday.
The proposal which Izetbegovic and the then Bosnian Premier Haris
Silajdzic suggested to Tudjman, envisaged an agreement on the
confederation between Croatia and Bosnia, provided that the Army of
Bosnia-Herzegovina sack all commanders whose replacement Croats
asked and that (Bosnia) Croat Defence Council do the same at the
request of Bosniaks (Moslems).
"The HVO and the Army of BiH would be united in an army, and to show
that they (Moslems) are not Islamists, they proposed that the
commander of the Bosnian armed forces be (Croatian general) Martin
Spegelj."
In this context Mesic added his assessment that Izetbegovic had not
in a frontal way been against Croatia."
"It was certainly most difficult to Alija in comparison to all other
presidents of the countries (established) in the former
Yugoslavia," Mesic told reporters recalling the hardship which
Bosnia experienced during the war when "the Republic of Srpska" and
(Croat-led) "Herceg-Bosna" appeared while Bosniaks (Moslems) had
no contingency-motherland.
Alija had his Islamists whom he conceded each time when pressure was
exerted on the survival of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mesic added.
"Mujahedeen were let come in "Mesic said adding that "it is clear to
everybody that they arrived via Croatia."
"Their number was exaggerated" the incumbent Croatian head of state
said concluding that it was perhaps good that today people were
withdrawing (from the political life) who had fulfilled their task
and helped Bosnia to win its independence, and they should be
succeeded by those who will make it possible for democratic
processes to go on.
(hina) jn ms