BICAKCIC TO WITHDRAW AFTER ELECTIONS

SARAJEVO, Nov 3 (Hina) - Bosnian Federation Premier Edhem Bicakcic will step from office after the upcoming elections even if his party does win in them. In a statement issued by Sarajevo's daily "Oslobodjenje", Bicakcic said four years in office had been quite sufficient for him. The Premier of the Croat/Moslem Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina joined the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in criticising a recent decision on changes to electoral regulations, but asserted this party was using the wrong methods in the fight for Croat national interests. Bicakcic holds that changes to the rules and regulations for elections of MPs into the Bosnian Federation House of Peoples were unconstitutional, with chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Barry, was accountable for this. In response to such an act, the HDZ opted for calling a referendum which should lead to an establishment of national parity in all federal institutions. "This is a wrong way to realise Croat interests," Bicakcic said, assessing that the Bosnian Federation in its present state could secure the respect for national rights of Both Croats and Bosniaks (Moslems). All important functions within this entity have already been transferred to cantons, and there is the "double key" mechanism of reaching decisions by consensus. Bicakcic said he was certain the referendum of Croats, called by the HDZ, would not happen. In this case the referendum is an electoral trick by the HDZ, he asserted. (hina) lml