MOSTAR: OSCE DECISIONS UNREASONABLE, BUT CROAT ASSEMBLY READY FOR DIALOGUE

MOSTAR, Nov 20 (Hina) - The Croat National Assembly of Bosnia- Herzegovina, a recently established body which gathers several Bosnian Croat parties under the leadership of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), on Monday assessed as unreasonable and unfounded decisions by the OSCE Mission's Electoral Appeals Sub- Commission penalising the party for organising a referendum on the status of the BH Croat people. At the same time, the Assembly expressed readiness to start a dialogue with representatives of the international community based on the principles of full constitutional and real equality of the Croat people. The Appeals Sub-Commission punished the HDZ for organising the referendum on the day of the general election, November 11, by removing ten elected HDZ candidates from five cantons without the possibility of their replacement. Explaining the decision, the Sub-Commission said the HDZ had violated media blackout by organising the referendum on the election day. Last week, the party threatened to boycott the bodies of authority but OSCE Mission head Robert Barry said the authorities in the country could be constituted without the HDZ. The Croat National Assembly's presidency yesterday confirmed it was ready to implement its Declaration, which was supported by the BH Croat people in the referendum. The Declaration calls for the equality of the BH Croat people, the establishment of Croat institutions on the entire territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the country's administrative and territorial reorganisation. (hina) rml