"CROATS MOST HARMED" : VJESNIK

ZAGREB, March 14 (Hina) - Under the headline "Croats Most Harmed", the Zagreb-gased daily Vjesnik runs an article by Aleksandar Milosevic on results of extensive research conducted by the U.S. Informative Agency (USIA) last December in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The agency searched for answers to questions which of the three ethnic groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina suffered the most and what their views on democracy are. Results have shown that Bosnian Croats (61%) were the most likely to support liberal democratic values and describe them as most important for democracy. Only 41 percent of Bosnian Serbs hold these values necessary for peaceful development and their political life. As regards a multi-party system, the results were the most interesting. 77% of Bosnian Croats said it was necessary for at least two strong political parties competing in elections, whereas 63% of Bosnian Serbs and only 49% of Bosniacs (Moslems) were in favour of a multi-party system. These results prove wrong the idea of Croats as being rigid and showing no tendency for living in a multi-ethnic country. The results also showed that, despite some desultory assessments, Croats were most harmed in the Bosnian war. 42% of Croats suffered phisical harm, compared to 15% Moslems and 13% Serbs. Croats were exiled in a greater number. Lastly, but not the least, the results showed that it is Croats who are most ready to forgive and forget the atrocities of war and live in togetherness. (hina) lm jn 141219 MET mar 96