MOSTAR BISHOP CONDEMNS ARBITRATION, ROWDY INCIDENTS

MOSTAR, Feb 9 (Hina) - The Bishop of Mostar yesterday issued a statement condemning the "colonial" imposition of the seventh Mostar municipality but also the rowdy protests that ensued. "On the 7th of February, the seventh municipality was politically imposed, in a colonial way, whereby one side benefited to the detriment of the other side," the Bishop's Office said in a statement. "The pain of those who lost their sons or husbands is understandable, but non-democratic political impositions and the rowdy acts of individuals are not acceptable," the statement said. The statement expressed confidence "in the political wisdom of the representatives of the Croatian people, who will find a way to defuse the tensions and seek a just solution which will serve the common good of all who live in Mostar, the capital of Herzegovina." (hina) mm as 091024 MET feb 96