OHR: BOSNIA NOT TO BE TURNED INTO CENTRALISED STATE

SARAJEVO, Jan 28 (Hina) - The Office of the high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina (OHR) on Thursday dismissed claims that the acts of the international community were aimed at establishing a centralised state which would be harmful to the interest of the Croat people in the country. OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stigmayer said in Sarajevo on Thursday that posters of the HVIDRA, an association of Croatian Homeland War invalids, had appeared in Livno (southwestern Bosnia- Herzegovina), which underlined such accusations against the High Representative. Stiglmayer said Bosnian Croats can in some cases have justified reasons for fear, but were often the victims of manipulation by radical political forces whose aim is to create an atmosphere of paranoia. The High Representative, as the international community, have no prejudice about Croats and are working on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement which guarantees Croats equality with the other two peoples in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Regarding HVIDRA's accusations that the establishment of a confederation between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, as envisaged by the Washington Agreement, was being refused, Stiglmayer said the Dayton Agreement signed by Croatian President Tudjman spoke about the maintaining of the state of Bosnia- Herzegovina, which at the same time means that one part of it cannot enter a confederation with another country. Dayton, however, does allow the establishment of special relations, on which agreements have been signed recently. (hina) lml mm