ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Bosnian Croats, as all other Bosnian citizens, must exercise their rights through institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said on Wednesday. Parties cannot call a referendum, he
told reporters at his official residence commenting on an initiative by Bosnia's Croatian Democratic Union party urging a referendum on the political status of Croats in Bosnia.
ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Bosnian Croats, as all other Bosnian
citizens, must exercise their rights through institutions of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said on
Wednesday.
Parties cannot call a referendum, he told reporters at his official
residence commenting on an initiative by Bosnia's Croatian
Democratic Union party urging a referendum on the political status
of Croats in Bosnia.#L#
"The paternalism in practice during the regime of (former Croatian)
President Tudjman can no longer be in practice in Croatia. For us,
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign independent state with which
we settle all issues bilaterally. There's no reason for us to take a
paternalistic stance towards any one party or anyone outside
Croatia," said Mesic.
The Bosnian HDZ, discontented with new electoral rules in Bosnia,
wanted all parties representing Croats to hold an assembly.
Before the Transitional Election Commission's passed new rules,
cantonal Croat deputies were the only ones who elected Croat
deputies to the House of Peoples of the federation and state
parliaments. According to the new rules, cantonal assembly
deputies of Bosnia's three constituent peoples elect each people's
deputies to the House of Peoples.
(hina) ha jn