HDZ BH TO INITIATE MEASURES AIMED AT IMPROVING CROATS' POSITION IN BH

SARAJEVO, Feb 24 (Hina) - Bosnian Croat official Jadranko Prlic on Wednesday told reporters in Sarajevo the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BH) would next week or within a fortnight at the latest issue a special plan of measures necessary to improve the Croats' position in Bosnia. Prlic, Bosnia's Foreign Minister and member of the HDZ BH Presidency, told a party press conference the HDZ BH had set up a special working group to that effect. The group will suggest measures aimed at changing the currently unfavourable position of Bosnian Croats and inciting them towards a greater commitment to BH. "Analyses conducted by independent international organisations have shown that support to both the Bosnian Federation and to BH is on a continuous decrease among Croats in BH, as well as that they are dissatisfied with the performance of international factors," Prlic said. He said the HDZ BH wished to contribute to the improvement of the Croats' position in a way not bringing into question the rights of the other peoples in Bosnia. Prlic also refuted allegations that the HDZ BH was advocating the establishment of a "third entity." "No Croat official in BH has mentioned a third entity. It is a fabrication of those who want to disqualify every possibility of discussion about the Croats' position in BH," Prlic said. He pointed out such issues must not be disregarded, as all indicators show that Bosnian Croats live on poorer standards than in 1995. Prlic said the HDZ BH remained firmly committed to the Croats' return to their pre-war homes, including to the Bosnian Serb entity, but added material foundations must first be provided. He also announced part of donations would now be redirected to enable Croats to return to Bosanski Brod and Derventa in northern BH. The president of Bosnia's Croat-Muslim Federation, Ivo Andric Luzanski, said the Bosnian Presidency's decision to reduce the armies of Bosnia's two entities by 30 percent in the next two years was one of several suggestions the HDZ BH had insisted for some time. "That decision is in keeping with the agreement on subregional weaponry control, and it is obvious to anyone that with the scale of international community presence in BH the current number of soldiers is unnecessary," Luzanski said. Commenting on the situation in Bosnian media, Luzanski said Bosnian Croats would not give up on reorganising the current Radio- Television of BH, nor on establishing a channel which would meet all needs of the Bosnian Croat people. (hina) ha jn