MOST VOTERS SUPPORT DECLARATION ON POSITION OF BH CROATS

MOSTAR, Nov 13 (Hina) - About 70 percent of registered voters have participated in the November 11 referendum and 99 percent of them have supported the Declaration on the Rights and Position of the Croat People in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was the subject of the referendum, a representative of the committee which organised the referendum told reporters in Mostar on Monday. Among else, the Declaration advocates the equality of the Bosnian Croat people with the other two peoples (Serbs and Bosniaks) and urges the establishment of Croat institutions on the entire territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the country's administrative and territorial reorganisation. According to the referendum results, which are final, a total of 216,191 out of 303,367 registered voters participated in the vote. International representatives said the referendum, which was initiated by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH), constituted a violation of electoral regulations. The committee's representative said the costs of the referendum were negligible because most activities were performed by volunteers and the referendum was financed by Bosnian Croat citizens and companies. (hina) jn rml