OFFICE OF HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CRITICISES THREE MOSTAR OFFICIALS

MOSTAR, Nov 29 (Hina) - The Senior Deputy High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Matei Hoffmann, on Monday forwarded a letter to the mayor and deputy mayor of the southern BH town of Mostar, and to the deputy prefect of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. He assessed the three officials did not work for the benefit of the town's and canton's residents. Avis Benes, a representative of the Mostar Regional Office of the High Representative, told reporters today the international community would closely follow the activities of Mostar mayor Ivan Prskalo, deputy mayor Safet Orucevic, and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton deputy prefect Rado Bosnjak. She said Hoffmann had also given the three officials a deadline to resolve many issues, namely to fulfil their obligations in keeping with the constitution of the Canton, the Croat-Muslim Federation of which the Canton is part, and Mostar's transitional statute. Asked to say what Hoffmann particularly objected to in the activities of Prskalo, Orucevic, and Bosnjak, Benes said Hoffmann believed Prskalo and Orucevic were not constructive in their approach to the establishment of joint town administration, and that they had used the media to politicise the problems in Mostar. Hoffmann objected to Bosnjak's insufficient efforts to advocate the unification of the judicial system in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, and to his obstruction of the passing of legislation necessary for the functioning of the town of Mostar and the Canton. Hoffmann, Benes added, also believes Bosnjak obstructed the inclusion of Mostar in the administration of its central area. (hina) ha mm