IZETBEGOVIC- TO GIVE BRCKO TO SERBS WOULD CAUSE CHAOS

SARAJEVO, Jan 21 (Hina) - A possible decision, which is to be made by the arbitration and which may give Brcko to the Republic of Srpska would represent a "tragic mistake" that would cause chaos, the Bosnia-Herzegovina's Presidency member, Alija Izetbegovic, told Thursday's issue of Sarajevo's daily "Dnevni Avaz". Izetbegovic said Bosniak (Moslem) people would see such a decision as the betrayal of its vital interests as well as a mockery of the international law and justice. According to him, a certain amount of injustice can be endured, but the Bosniak people could not accept that Brcko (north-eastern Bosnian town on the Sava river) be allocated to Serbs even during negotiations in Dayton. The Moslem leader said the main argument of the Serb party that the territorial integrity of the Bosnian Serb entity should be preserved by giving Brcko given to them, had no real weight. According to him, if the Serbs insist on the territorial integrity of their entity, they disguise their intention to secede behind it. The (Moslem-Croat) Federation is also not in one part. Their argument discloses their intention to secede, since only in case of secession they need the territorial integrity of their entity. Therefore, Brcko should be given to the Federation to redress one injustice done by the Dayton deal and to show clearly that there will be no secession, Izetbegovic was quoted by the daily as saying. A decision of the international arbitration on Brcko is expected to be made by the end of February. (hina) ms