MOSTAR, Feb 7 (Hina) - European Union administrator Hans Koschnick signed on Wednesday the Transitional Statute of the city, arbitration on boundaries of six districts and the decision on calling election for all city area.
MOSTAR, Feb 7 (Hina) - European Union administrator Hans Koschnick
signed on Wednesday the Transitional Statute of the city,
arbitration on boundaries of six districts and the decision on
calling election for all city area. #L#
"By these regulations I have created a legal framework for a
new city organization," Koschnick told reporters.
He recalled that officials from both sides disagreed with him
over certain issues.
"The western Mostar (Croat) officials object that I have
violated the Dayton accords, since the 'central district'
(envisioned in the decision) was never mentioned there expressis
verbis.
"But the necessity of establishing such a zone is something I
have derived from the fact that such an urban potential gives a
special significance to Mostar, a feature of second capital of
Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would also secure the establishment of
the municipalities with Bosniac or Croat relative majority,"
Koschnick said.
He underscored that the Dayton accords, as regards the city of
Mostar, were above all derived from the Memorandum on
Understanding, which envisaged unification of both police forces in
the city.
"Those who demand a consistent respect for the Dayton accords,
must necessarily begin from implementation of the Memorandum on
Understanding, must unify the police forces and must find a way for
the citizens expelled from their neighborhoods but still living
somewhere in the town to be returned to their flats.
"All of that has been and still is in concordance with all
agreements signed by Bosniac and Croat authorities -- from October
1993 to November/December 1995," he said, recalling that the
agreement had stipulated that neither Sarajevo nor Mostar should be
divided along the confrontation lines, but to become the cities for
all their citizens and peoples again.
"My decision does not go for reestablishment of Mostar as it
used to be. It is not possible," he said, but "the religious and
cultural tolerance, as well as structures for a joint social and
economic life must be restored."
"Due to all this I call the City Council, which would be
elected to analyze the Statute, decree on election, and division of
the city according to the interests of the free citizens of
Mostar," he said.
"If they appear to be able to make their decision soon, I
would see that necessary means start arriving from Europe. Anyway,
I want to see a Catholic church in the eastern part of the city, a
mosque in the west, and at least a small Orthodox chapel,"
Koschnick said.
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071525 MET feb 96