OHR BLAMES SDA FOR OBSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT ON ZEPCE

SARAJEVO, June 22 (Hina) - The political leadership of the (Moslem- led) Party of Democratic Action is responsible for obstructing the implementation of an agreement on the organisation of the central Bosnian municipality of Zepce, said a spokesman for the Office of the international High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina (OHR), in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The spokesman James Fergusson told a news conference that the Moslem (Bosniak) side was refusing to sign the agreement on the organisation of Zepce, which had been reached after six months of intensive negotiations. SDA officials launched a campaign of offering misinformation and deluding the public about the contents of the deal, he added. We believe that a part of the SDA leadership does not want the dissolution of parallel bodies of authorities in the (Croat- Moslem) Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the OHR spokesman said adding that the conduct of the deal on the new organisation of Zepce would present a great step forward for this Bosnian entity. In case the SDA does not change its opinion soon, the OHR will recommend to foreign donors and investors not to give money to Zepce, Fergusson announced. Moslem member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-man Presidency and the SDA leader, Alija Izetbegovic, justified the refusal to accept the agreement on Zepce by Moslem fears that the change of municipal boundaries would transform this Moslem-populated area into a town with a Croat majority. (hina) ms