SARAJEVO CITY COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED 10 APRIL

SARAJEVO, Mar 27 (Hina) - The representatives of political parties in the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton on Thursday agreed on the establishment of the bodies of city authorities, thus implementing a protocol on the organization of Sarajevo as a city signed by presidents Kresimir Zubak and Alija Izetbegovic last year. Mediator during the negotiations was deputy high representative Michael Steiner. Representatives of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Bosnia- Herzegovina (BH), the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), the Social Democratic Party, the Union of Social Democrats of BH and the Party for BH signed agreements by which they adopt drafts to amendments to the federal and cantonal constitution, the draft of the Statute of the City of Sarajevo and a special agreement on the deadlines of the implementation of the agreement. The founding session of the City Council, to comprise 28 councillors, is expected to take place on 10 April, when the Statute will be adopted and the mayor and his two deputies appointed. Steiner assessed today's agreement as very significant for the Federation, and the state of BH as well, particularly due to the fact that Sarajevo would become a city before the Pope's arrival (13 April). It was agreed that the mayor would be appointed by the party with most representatives in the City Council (SDA), in agreement with other political parties. SDA's Co-President, Edhem Bicakcic, said that a candidate for mayor had still not been chosen, but would be by the set time-limit. Today's agreement was a progress in the integration of BH, he said, adding that its use would be manifest shortly. Today's agreement was a new stimulus to the establishment of an integral system of authority in the Federation, said Bozo Rajic, president of HDZ of BH, adding that it also encouraged Croats in Sarajevo to stay and return to that city, because it fortified the position of the Croat people. The document was the best evidence that the Federation could be built on the bases of equality, if people really wanted to do it, Rajic concluded. (hina) ha 272240 MET mar 97