CRO REPS WILL NOT TAKE PART IN ARBITRATION ON BRCKO

( Editorial: --> 9584 ) SARAJEVO, Feb 5 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croat people in the Croat-Muslim Bosnian Federation will not take part in the work of an arbitrary tribunal which should determine the fate of Brcko, a river port in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to a Thursday statement from Bosnian Federation vice president Vladimir Soljic's office, this decision has been made due to unresolved issues related to the settlement of Bosniaks-Muslims in Croat and Serb villages in the part of the municipality of Brcko on Bosnian Federation territory. Even though Croat representatives will not attend the tribunal session to be chaired by Roberts Owen in Vienna today, the Croat side has, in line with its responsibilities, forwarded a written suggestion for the status organisation of Brcko municipality. According to the statement, the Croat side suggests that three municipalities be formed in the Brcko area, with Bosniak, Croat and Serb majority. The town of Brcko would be organised as a district under direct government of the Town Council. All bodies of authority would be composed in line with the pre-war population structure, while the three constituent peoples would be equally represented at the Town Council. The town would be governed by a mayor and two deputy mayors, each from one people. They would each hold the office three years. The same principle would apply for the head of the Town Council, but the mayor and head of the Town Council could not be from the same people. Local elections and appointments to the Town Council would be carried out in line with rules and patronage of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The association of municipalities of the town of Brcko would be liable to comply with the peace agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina as regards the return of refugees who lived in the area in 1991. Over the next five years, residents from other parts of Bosnia or the former Yugoslavia would not be able to become permanent residents of Brcko or vote at local elections. The Croat side believes these suggestions for the organisation of Brcko would be in effect for six years, to be followed by a re- examination of their legitimacy. The fate of Brcko was not resolved with the Dayton peace agreement in 1995, when it was agreed a decision on which entity of Bosnia- Herzegovina would get Brcko should be made by a special arbitration commission, which has already prolonged the passing of the decision on one occasion. Before the war, Brcko's population was mainly non-Serb. The river port is of great importance for both Bosnian entities, as it connects the east and west of the Bosnian Serb entity, as well as the Croat-Muslim Federation with inland navigation in central Europe. (hina) ha mm 051301 MET feb 98