SARAJEVO, Feb 16 (Hina) - The establishment of a "third entity" in Bosnia-Herzegovina would present a clear violation of the Dayton Agreement and undermining of everything its signatories had adopted, spokesman for the Office of the
high representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, James Ferguson, said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Ferguson commented on an open letter sent to the High representative by an association of Croat Homeland War invalids of Herzeg-Bosnia. The letter once again expressed embitterment about the attack on a Croat police officer in Travnik (central Bosnia-Herzegovina) and accused High representative Westendorp for not applying equal criteria for Croats and Bosniaks, as well as for secretly helping the establishment of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a unitary state. The war invalids stressed the establishment of a "third entity" in Bosnia-Herzegovina was the only way to protect the interests of Croats
SARAJEVO, Feb 16 (Hina) - The establishment of a "third entity" in
Bosnia-Herzegovina would present a clear violation of the Dayton
Agreement and undermining of everything its signatories had
adopted, spokesman for the Office of the high representative to
Bosnia-Herzegovina, James Ferguson, said in Sarajevo on Tuesday.
Ferguson commented on an open letter sent to the High
representative by an association of Croat Homeland War invalids of
Herzeg-Bosnia.
The letter once again expressed embitterment about the attack on a
Croat police officer in Travnik (central Bosnia-Herzegovina) and
accused High representative Westendorp for not applying equal
criteria for Croats and Bosniaks, as well as for secretly helping
the establishment of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a unitary state.
The war invalids stressed the establishment of a "third entity" in
Bosnia-Herzegovina was the only way to protect the interests of
Croats in the country.
Ferguson said Westendorp clearly denounced the recent attack on the
Croat policeman, as well as all other incidents aimed against
Croats. Westendorp expected the perpetrators to be brought before
justice, he added.
Ferguson said there were no double standards for the international
community to apply in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and stressed the fact
that the Sarajevo association of war veterans constantly lashed out
at Westendorp for the implementation of property laws.
Our reply is the same: everybody, without an exception, has the
right to reassume property they had owned before the war, Ferguson
stressed.
According to him, it was clear to Westendorp that Bosnia-
Herzegovina could not exist without Croats, and existing
constitutions guarantee the sustainability of not a unitary state,
but a state with two entities.
Westendorp is prepared to start talks with the war invalids and
similar organisations about the future of the Federation within the
framework of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but stressed that a formal
discussion about a "third entity" has never been initiated.
The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Bosnia-Herzegovina has
never formally informed us about the initiative to establish a
third entity, Ferguson stressed.
He explained talks about this were propaganda.
He said Ante Jelavic, HDZ president, had told Westendorp that he
personally did not believe in the idea of a third entity, although
there were people thinking about it.
(hina) lml jn