MOSTAR, Apr 17 (Hina) - The HVO (Croatian Defence Council) headquarters on Tuesday criticised a Bosnian Presidency decision to grant a bonus in lieu of wages to Bosnian army soldiers. "The decision completely disregards the fact that
nearly 50 percent of the Federation's territory was defended by HVO soldiers," the HVO said in a statement.
MOSTAR, Apr 17 (Hina) - The HVO (Croatian Defence Council)
headquarters on Tuesday criticised a Bosnian Presidency decision to
grant a bonus in lieu of wages to Bosnian army soldiers. "The
decision completely disregards the fact that nearly 50 percent of
the Federation's territory was defended by HVO soldiers," the HVO
said in a statement. #L#
"If it is established that the granting of savings books with
400 to 500 DEM for each month spent fighting is the only way to
reward the defenders for their efforts, the HVO insists that both
HVO soldiers and Herzeg-Bosnian police officers should be granted
such books," the statement said.
The statement went on to refute the Presidency's "politically
harmful" contention that HVO soldiers were not qualified to receive
the bonus since they had been receiving regular wages throughout
the war.
"HVO soldiers did receive monthly wages, but they were not
paid from the Federal Treasury but from the aid sent by the
Croatian diaspora and the budget funds collected on the HVO-
controlled territory," the statement explained.
"HVO proposes that representatives of financial institutions
of friendly countries audit the financial aid accounts both on the
HVO-controlled territory and in the areas controlled by the Bosnain
army and then suggest the most appropriate method for rewarding the
members of the Federation Armed Forces," the statement concluded.
(hina) mm as
171119 MET apr 96