HEADS OF 4 RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN BOSNIA ADVOCATE RECONCILIATION

( Editorial: --> 0835 ) BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (Hina) - A delegation comprising of leaders of religious communities in Bosnia-Herzegovina held talks with EU representatives in Brussels on Tuesday and strongly advocated reconciliation among religious communities in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Leaders of the Islam, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish communities in Bosnia-Herzegovina also conveyed to the EU representatives concrete plans for the realisation of the task. Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islam community, Mustafa Ceric, Mitropolitan of the Serb Orthodox Church, Nikolaj Mrdja, Sarajevo Archbishop Vinko Puljic and president of the Jewish community, Jakob Finci, advocated a unified Bosnia-Herzegovina and the reinstatement of co-existence. "We need to take concrete steps in order for the hatred which appeared through manipulation to cease," Puljic said. "We must not negate what had happened," he said, stressing the necessity of creating responsibility. "We are ready to assume responsibility," he concluded. The religious leaders all agreed that the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina was not a religious war, although people on all sides referred to their religions. They also informed the international representatives about the plan of establishment of a Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia- Herzegovina, and asked for financial assistance. As the primary goals of the Council they stressed the stimulation of the freedom of movement within Bosnia-Herzegovina, of the return of displaced persons and refugees, the enabling of all religious representatives to work in their communities, work on the return of property to religious communities. The Council would also check out violation of human rights complaints. EU Commissioner for relations with countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Hans van den Broek, pledged that the plan would be reviewed in detail. The religious leaders also spoke with eight members of the European Parliament headed by Enrique Baron Cresp, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and representatives of the Belgian Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry, Belgian Bishops' Conference and the Belgian Jewish Community. Their visit to Brussels was organised by the Bosnia-Herzegovina Mission at the EU. (hina) lm jn 101811 MET feb 98