HDZ BH PUTS UP NEW CANDIDATE FOR STOLAC MAYOR

( Editorial: --> 7488 ) MOSTAR, March 5 (Hina) - Following High Representative Carlos Westendorp's recall of Pero Raguz as mayor of Stolac (a southern Bosnia-Herzegovina town under Croat control), the Stolac branch of the Croatian Democratic Union of BH (HDZ BH) put forward Pero Pazin as Raguz's successor. A statement by the municipal committee of HDZ BH, which has been carried by Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, described the pressure by international officials on Stolac and Raguz as "unfounded" and "an element of pressure on the entire leadership of Croats in BH". The statement notes that Raguz submitted an irrevocable resignation. According to a statement by Westendorp's spokesperson Aisling Burne, made on Thursday in Sarajevo, the High Representative decided that Raguz had to immediately step down, "because conditions had not been met for an unobstructed return of Bosniak (Muslim) refugees to Stolac and the establishment of a special municipal commission for promotion and assistance in that process". (Hina) jn mr /mb 052157 MET mar 98