BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SHOULD BE DECENTRALISED - BUDISA AND JELAVIC

ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) Drazen Budisa and president of the Croatian Democratic Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) Ante Jelavic agreed in Zagreb on Saturday that the political option of Bosnian Croats was not a third entity, but a consistent cantonisation and decentralisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which all three peoples would be constitutive. The two said the position of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina should be strengthened, and stressed the importance of the return of displaced Croats. "The third entity would be a real political option only should Republika Srpska become ethnically cleansed and if it is not consistently cantonised," Budisa said after talks with Jelavic. Both held the Croat side in Bosnia had proved it respected the Dayton Agreement and advocated a speedy return of all displaced persons and refugees to their homes. "Without return there can be no balance among the three peoples and between Croat-Bosniak relations," Jelavic said. He warned that the number of Croats and Bosniaks in the Bosnian Federation at this moment showed that "at this moment we cannot ensure an equal position for Croats with other peoples in Bosnia- Herzegovina". Asked whether he will hold talks with presidents of other opposition parties known as the "Opposition Six", Jelavic said he was "prepared to talk with all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia". There should be a general consensus of all parties in Croatia regarding support to the strengthening of the position of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jelavic and Budisa agreed. Notwithstanding who wins in the upcoming elections, Croatia still has the lasting constitutional commitment to help Bosnian Croats, they stressed. (hina) lml