ZUBAK CONFIRMS ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PARTY

( Editorial: --> 8454 ) SARAJEVO, June 2 (Hina)- The Croat representative in Bosnia's collective presidency, Kresimir Zubak, confirmed on Tuesday that some members of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BH) had decided to terminate their membership in that party and found a new political organisation, "Bosnian- Herzegovinian Croatian Democratic Union". Zubak broke the news to the press in Sarajevo after a three hour meeting of a large group of Croatian officials from the bodies of BH and the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH. The initiative for the founding of a new party has been signed by 38 prominent officials of the HDZ BH who decided on Tuesday to found a stirring committee with Ivo Lozancic at its head. According to Zubak, the constituent convention of the new party will take place in Sarajevo on June 14. Zubak explained the decision to form a new party was disappointment with the course of the recent HDZ BH convention in Mostar, southern BH. "That convention should have confirmed the unity of the party, and as a result that of the Croat people in BH, on the basic principles of a consistent implementation of the peace agreement and a consistent effort in the realisation of all human and national rights, interests and needs of the Croat people in the whole field of HDZ BH's political activity", Zubak told reporters. He assessed the convention had ended in a way entirely different than expected and demonstrated a strong non-democratic activity. "We believed such a policy was contrary to the general interests of the Croat people both in BH and in Croatia, and that we could not ensure the implementation of the peace agreement in such a surrounding and such relations within the HDZ BH, (...) so we decided to (...) establish a special party under the working name of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croatian Democratic Union", Zubak said. He pointed out the new party would be based on the programme principles of the HDZ BH from the time of its establishment and the acceptance of and respect for a consistent implementation of the peace agreement. "We are building the full unity of the Croat people and wish good to all Croats in BH", said Lozancic. Speaking about the forthcoming election in BH, Zubak said that although the registration deadline for the election had already expired, the new party would put up its candidates. "We will announce our candidates in September because we consider ourselves a legitimate successor of the HDZ BH which has registered for the election", Zubak said. Today's meeting was also attended by the Federation's deputy premier Drago Bilandzija, Justice Minister Mato Tadic, Transport Minister Perica Jukic, Bosnia's Foreign Trade Deputy Minister Nikola Grabovac, Civil Issues Deputy Minister Milan Krizanovic, and Lower House chairman Mariofil Ljubic. (hina) ha mr 022226 MET jun 98