SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF HVO MARKED IN MOSTAR

( Editorial: --> 5596 ) MOSTAR, April 8 (Hina) - The sixth anniversary of the Croatian defence Council (HVO) was marked in Mostar on Wednesday. At the ceremony, the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Kresimir Zubak, said the "Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis has not been completely overcome," and "we have to show resoluteness in the implementation of peace agreements". Zubak stressed that the "near future in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be very demanding," and called the Croat people to be united. According to Zubak, "Bosnia-Herzegovina will very soon get a place with special status in the union of European countries". Present at the ceremony were Croat officials in bodies of the Bosnian Federation and Bosnia-Herzegovina, a Croatian delegation headed by the Deputy Defence Minister, Kresimir Cosic. Cosic relayed a message of best wishes from Minister Gojko Susak, who stressed that the "HVO is an important factor in maintaining Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina". The establishment of the HVO "created a basis for Bosnia- Herzegovina as a country of three constitutive peoples," Susak's message said. Several HVO golden and silver plaques were awarded at the ceremony, including to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Defence Minister Gojko Susak. (hina) lm mm 081936 MET apr 98