US EMBASSY IN BH CONDEMNS HVIDRA'S STATEMENT

SARAJEVO, March 19 (Hina) - The United States Embassy in Bosnia- Herzegovina harshly condemned a statement issued on March 16 by the Association of Bosnian Croat invalids and veterans of the Homeland War (HVIDRA), the United States Information Service reported in Sarajevo on Friday. The HVIDRA statement, reading that Bosnian Croats cannot live either in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina or in Bosnia- Herzegovina and inviting all Bosnian Croat political officials to retreat from institutions in the Federation and Bosnia- Herzegovina, is inflammatory and outrageous, the U.S. statement read. A strong Federation with multi-ethnic institutions which function the best is a guarantee for the protection of security and rights of all citizens of the Federation, the statement said. Despite the resistance the HVIDRA has demonstrated towards the multi-ethnic Federation and Bosnia-Herzegovina which was based on the foundations of equal protection of rights of all citizens, the United States of America remained pro strengthening of Federation institutions and the marginalisation of proponents of ethnic hatred. The Unites States will give its support to the intensive, accelerated, and joint investigation of this cowardly attack on the Federal Deputy Interior Minister, Jozo Leutar, read the statement of the US Embassy in Sarajevo. (hina) it lml