ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - President of the strongest Croatian opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, and Croat Member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Ante Jelavic, told reporters after talks on Friday
they opposed the creation of a third entity, but advocated the constitutiveness of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "It is not the time for a third entity, but for an independent, democratic and decentralised Bosnia-Herzegovina," Jelavic said. "We are not for a third entity, for respecting the Dayton Agreement, especially with regard to Republika Srpska which must be an integral part of Bosnia-Herzegovina and in which the constitutivness of the Croat people must be secured," Racan said. Jelavic advocated further cantonisation of the country, that is, organising smaller cantonal units. He said a third entity can only be discussed if the return of displaced persons and refugees fail
ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - President of the strongest Croatian
opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan,
and Croat Member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Ante
Jelavic, told reporters after talks on Friday they opposed the
creation of a third entity, but advocated the constitutiveness of
Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"It is not the time for a third entity, but for an independent,
democratic and decentralised Bosnia-Herzegovina," Jelavic said.
"We are not for a third entity, for respecting the Dayton Agreement,
especially with regard to Republika Srpska which must be an
integral part of Bosnia-Herzegovina and in which the
constitutivness of the Croat people must be secured," Racan said.
Jelavic advocated further cantonisation of the country, that is,
organising smaller cantonal units.
He said a third entity can only be discussed if the return of
displaced persons and refugees fails.
Racan said only an ethnically cleansed Bosnian Serb entity of
Republika Srpska would initiate a discussion of a third entity. He
called on the international community and democratic forces in
Bosnia-Herzegovina to advocate Republika Srpska being an integral
part of the country, and Croats in it a constitutive people.
Racan expressed satisfaction that the Croat leadership in Bosnia-
Herzegovina was "opening a wider communication with all political
forces in Croatia".
He added the SDP would continue to defend the interests of the Croat
people in the independent Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Jelavic said is was "high time political forces in Croatia be
explained the position of the Croat people in Bosnia-
Herzegovina".
He dismissed "judgements by some analysts in Bosnia-Herzegovina"
about the connection of this meeting with the upcoming elections in
Croatia.
"I am convinced Croatia will know how to care about the interests of
Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, notwithstanding the electoral
results," Jelavic said.
Racan an Jelavic announced they would jointly try to organise the
return of one thousand Bosnian Croats to Plehan near Derventa in
Republika Srpska.
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