BH FEDERATION PREMIER'S ORDER NOT IMPLEMENTED BY CRO BORDER OFFICIALS

SARAJEVO, Dec 16 (Hina) - A decision of the Bosnian Federation Prime Minister, Edhem Bicakcic, to suspend an agreement on duty-free trade with Croatia, is being implemented only on several border crossings with Bosnia-Herzegovina, well-informed sources in Sarajevo told Hina on Wednesday. Bicakcic yesterday forwarded his request for voiding the agreement on duty-free trade to the Federation Customs Administration deputy manager, Fuad Kasumovic. After this, an order bearing Kasumovic's signature was sent to all customs branch offices. According to the order, as of December 15, the tariff rates, as stipulated by the Law on BH Customs Tariffs of March 1998, should also apply to all Croatian products. However, Federation Customs Administration manager Stipo Vujevic subsequently annulled Kasumovic's order. "Presently we have a situation in which Bacakcic's decision is being implemented on the border crossings under, let us say, Bosniak Muslim supervision, while on Croat-controlled border crossings this decision is not being implemented", a source who wished to remain anonymous told Hina. The same source stressed that Bicakcic had misinterpreted one very generalised letter by the international High Representative for Bosnia, Carlos Westendorp, in which the Federation Government was asked to efficiently implement the taxation and tariff policy. "Besides, this is an international agreement which was not jeopardised by the implementation of the Law on BH Customs Tariffs. The agreement itself envisages a one-year cancellation period, and can not be cancelled over night under any conditions", Hina's source reported. The daily "Dnevni Avaz" was the only media in Sarajevo which reported on Prime Minister Bicakcic's action. The daily also said that all those failing to implement Bicakcic's request would be replaced, and stressed that harsh reactions should be expected from Croatia. (hina) it jn/rml