BOSNIAN CROATS AGREE WITH WESTENDORP'S STRONGER MANDATE

( Editorial: --> 7347 ) BONN, Dec 10 (Hina) - Bosnian Croats have agreed to a stronger mandate on the part of the international High Representative for Bosnia and insist on the establishment and functioning of joint Bosnian institutions, Kresimir Zubak, the Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency, said in Bonn Wednesday. Zubak is attending a two-day conference of the Council for the Implementation of Peace taking place in Petersberg near Bonn. We agree that the High Representative in Bosnia should have his mandate expanded, Zubak told Hina in answer to a question about the Bosnian Croat stand regarding a stronger mandate for Carlos Westendorp. The Council for the Implementation of Peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina should pass decisions regarding key issues which influence the constitutional arrangement achieved through the Dayton peace agreement, after consultations with relevant parties and the High Representative, Zubak said. This view has been accepted at the conference, whose final document significantly expands Westendorp's authority. In the future, Westendorp will be able to reach binding decisions in instances when Bosnia's three sides fail to agree. He will also be able to call sessions of Bosnia's central bodies, including the Presidency, and to dismiss officials obstructing the implementation of the Dayton agreement. Commenting on the expanded authority, Zubak said "if it will be so, I'm afraid (Presidency chairman) Izetbegovic would come under fire." "We insist on joint institutions", Zubak said. At this moment, the Muslims (Bosniaks) are in the best position, since central institutions have not begun functioning yet, and former institutions of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina still exist, Zubak said. "As long as central Bosnian bodies, which should include Bosnian Croats, do not function, Bosnian Croats cannot influence decisions concerning Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially decisions on means for reconstruction and development", Zubak further said. All three members of the Bosnian Presidency, Zubak, Izetbegovic and Serb representative Momcilo Krajisnik, agreed on the passing of laws on citizenship, a passport, and a law on the Bosnian Council of Ministers. They failed to agree on a common currency and licence plates. "We agree with (Westendorp's) suggestion that the licence plates should be identical, since we believe at this stage it would facilitate freedom of movement", Zubak said. This issue should not be regulated on the level of Bosnia- Herzegovina, as it "is not within its competence". It is under exclusive competence of the two entities, i.e. the cantons making up the Croat-Muslim Federation, he explained. As regarded currency, Zubak said that Serbs and Muslims were unable to reach an agreement, since the Muslim party wanted a neutral solution regarding the appearance of banknotes, whereas Serbs wanted banknotes issued in the Bosnian Serb Republic to bear images of figures they consider important. The Bosnian Croat party would insist that banknotes issued in the Bosnian Federation bear images and symbols of figures from Croatia's history and literature, Zubak said. According to the law, Bosnian banknotes should bear common elements, as well as elements specific to the entity they are issued in. (hina) ha jn 101622 MET dec 97