SARAJEVO BIDS FAREWELL TO LATE LEUTAR

SARAJEVO, March 30 (Hina) - On Tuesday, Sarajevo saw off the remains of the late Jozo Leutar, a Bosnian Federal Deputy Interior Minister, who died two days ago of injuries he had sustained in a murder attempt in the Bosnian capital two weeks ago. Leutar, who was also a senior official of the Bosnian Croat HDZ party, is to be buried in Mostar. Prior to the farewell ceremony, a joint commemorative session of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Parliament Houses and Moslem-Croat federal bodies was held. Present at the commemoration were all Bosnian Croat officials, representatives of opposition parties and members of the diplomatic corps in Sarajevo. However, except Vice- President Ejup Ganic, none of high-ranking Bosniak (Moslem) officials were present either at the commemorative session or at the farewell ceremony. During his speech at the commemoration, Vladimir Soljic, who is the chairman of the Bosnian Parliament's House of Nations, stressed that the assassination of Jozo Leutar was only the last one in a series of terrorist attacks against Croats. We most look at the truth and raise the question who ordered these crimes and who were their perpetrators. Is it possible that they do this in Sarajevo where there are so many soldiers, policemen, intelligence workers, domestic and foreign, Soljic wondered. He recalled that the assassinations such as against Leutar claimed lives of nine persons. So far neither perpetrators nor those who ordered them have been disclosed, he stressed. I expect that the Bosnian Croat leadership should be helped and enabled to seek best solutions in peaceful manner. Stop accusing us unfairly of persuading Croats not to return to their homes and claiming that they kill themselves, Soljic said. He called for halting terrorism and stressed that in this case perpetrators would remain undiscovered only if those who allegedly search for them want so. On behalf of Sarajevo citizens, Deputy Mayor of the city, Ante Zelic, held a farewell speech saying that Sarajevans liked and respected Leutar. He added that Leutar always loved Sarajevo as his hometown. The pain of his family is the greatest, but Leutar's death is also a message for Sarajevo Croats that their fate is uncertain both in Sarajevo and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zelic added. He stressed that horrible act of the murder of Leutar would not deter his fellow citizens from struggling for tolerance, peace and equality. The religious service during the solemn ceremony was held by Sarajevo Auxiliary Bishop, Msgr. Pero Sudar, who expressed the deepest condolences to Leutar's family on behalf of Bosnian Bishops' conference and clergy. Sudar said Leutar had given his life for justice. I call on you prevent the victory of evil by joint strength and trust in the good, the Catholic Bishop stressed. A spokeswoman for the Office of the international High Representative (OHR) to Bosnia, Alexandra Stiglmayer. confirmed that Carlos Westendorp's first deputy, Jacques Klein, would attend Leutar's funeral in Mostar. Westendorp himself visited Leutar's family on Monday to express his condolences. Stiglmayer on Tuesday reiterated the OHR request forwarded to local authorities to take energetic measures to complete swiftly an investigation into the bomb attack against Leutar and to bring perpetrators to justice. She also said some Bosnian Croat officials exploited Leutar's death for political propaganda causing bigger unrest in the country, and called on them to restrain from such conduct. (hina) ms