CROAT OFFICIALS IN BOSNIAN GOVT ISSUE STATEMENT OVER INCIDENTS

SARAJEVO, Jan 6 (Hina) - A group of senior Bosnian Croat officials with the Bosnian government in Sarajevo issued a communique on Saturday, over the events which had soared tensions in Mostar over past few days. The lengthy statement, signed by Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak, and the government ministers Jadranko Prlic, Mate Tadic, Martin Raguz, Neven Tomic, Vladislav Pogarcic and Bozo Ljubic, mainly complained about biased and distorted interpretations that the events are being covered with in the metropolitan media. "Gentlemen of the press, consciously or unconsciously, you do create the picture of reality which does not correspond to the facts. The consequence is, unfortunately, creation of the atmosphere which might annul what had been achieved in putting the Federation to work," the statement said, after numbering the events, not only in Mostar, but also earlier ambush killings in northern-central areas. "We believe that the starting principle in establishing new relations within Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina is in interest to make both our peoples equal in their rights, and not in sanctification of some ideological view," the statement said, pleading for a restraint of the practices which could lead to another propaganda and media war. The Croats have often been irritated as being labelled in the media with terms like "fascists", "extremists" etc., which had apparently reappeared due to latest incidents. (Hina) bk 062015 MET jan 96