PETRITSCH:ALL CRO CITIZENS IN BOSNIA MUST HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTION

ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Every Croatian citizen, who is now living in Bosnia-Herzegovina, must have access to the voting at the coming election, said the international High Representative to Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch in Zagreb on Wednesday. "Our major concern is that all citizens of Croatia, who are now living in Bosnia including Croatian Serbs, have the equal access to the voting, Petritsch said after his talks with Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa in Zagreb. This naturally implies the implementation of the process of registering eligible voters as a condition for being able to cast ballots, the international community's Representative said pointing out the importance of registers of voters and polling stations. He and Matesa also considered that matter. Although it is up to governments in Zagreb and Sarajevo to solve these issues, the Office of High Representative is very interested in a just solution that will cover all persons who should go to the polls, Petritsch added. He and Matesa discussed other topics as the special relations between these two neighbouring countries, the situation in the media, particularly re-broadcasting of programmes of Croatian Television (HTV) in Bosnia. Petritsch said he was very interested in the state of affairs of Bosnian Croats who are the least numerous constituent nation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I emphasise that I offer full support to all legitimate demands of Croats in Bosnia, he told reporters. Croatia also regards that all her citizens who live in Bosnia, no matter whether they are Croats or citizens of Serb nationality, should have an opportunity to cast ballots at the December election, Matesa told reporters. Both Bosnian and Croatian governments, with assistance of the Office of High representatives, should ensure that such citizens may exercise their right to vote, Matesa added. Describing the job of the High Representative as "one of the most difficult in the world," Croatian PM told reporters "it is absolutely worth doing" as the implementation of the Dayton peace accords "is in the interest of all peoples who live in Bosnia- Herzegovina". Croatia, as a signatory to Washington and Dayton agreements, is aware of its responsibility for their full confirmation, Matesa added. "It is one of guidelines of Croatia's policy, which culminates, in a way, in the signing of the border agreement," said Matesa. Croatia signed that treaty with Bosnia before than with other neighbouring states and in this way dispelled suspicions about its role in the settlement of Bosnia's interior issues. For Croatia, Bosnia is an independent state and the only interest which Croatia has in it is the care for the Croatian national community that lives in that country. Croatia should care for them, according to its Constitution, Matesa explained. In view of other issues, Croatia accepts an initiative to make a step forward in regulating relations with Bosnia through an agreement on local border traffic and trade, and Zagreb views the economic agreement as one of fundamental issues which should be settled. Concerning the television in Bosnia, Croatia will absolutely accept the solution for which Bosnian Croat opt, Matesa added. (hina) jn ms