CRO COMMUNITY OF HERZEG BOSNA HOLDS SECOND CONVENTION

( Editorial: --> 1986 ) MOSTAR, Feb 14 (Hina) - The Croatian Community of Herzeg Bosna (HZHB) Saturday held its second convention in the southern Bosnian town of Mostar. Several conclusions were reached, expressing the "willingness of Croats of Bosnia-Herzegovina" to fully implement the Dayton peace agreement and actively participate in the building of a pro-Dayton, constitutionally organised BH. The convention concluded that extant and new projects aimed at preserving the national identity of Bosnian Croats and their constitutionality and equality in BH should be initiated and implemented. Special attention must be paid to solving problems of families of killed defenders, Homeland War invalids, and demobilised defenders, the HZHB concluded. The return of Croats and protection of property in 1998, the year of the return of refugees and displaced persons will, according to the HZHB, be a priority for all Croat institutions and Croat officials on all levels in the Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and BH. The HZHB demanded more decisive measures in removing all obstacles to the return of displaced persons and refugees, and all aspects of crime in particular. Considering the outstanding importance of the media and the unequal status and media treatment of Bosnian Croats, the HZHB believes it is necessary to take urgent measures to the effect of ensuring access to all previously joint media and the establishment of new ones. The convention was attended by deputy international High Representative for BH Jacques Klein and the head of the Mostar regional office of the High Representative, Martin Garrod. On behalf of the Republic of Croatia, in attendance were Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic, Privatisation Minister Milan Kovac, and Croatia's general consul in Mostar Ciro Grubisic. (hina) ha 142138 MET feb 98