WASHINGTON, 14 May (Hina) - Participants in today's session of the Forum for the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina met with the U.S. President Bill Clinton on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, 14 May (Hina) - Participants in today's session of the
Forum for the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina met with the U.S.
President Bill Clinton on Tuesday. #L#
The Bosniac and Croat sides left the meeting with the still
divided standpoints on the organisation of the Federation's
military forces.
The Federation's Vice President Ejup Ganic demanded unified
but not joint (that is, parallel) forces, while the Federation's
President Kresimir Zubak advocated one army which would consist of
two components - the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and the Bosnian
army. According to Zubak, such an army would have the same command,
ranks, uniforms and insignia.
'We could not enter any project which is aimed at the
establishment of a unified army based on the model of the former
Yugoslav People's Army (JNA)', Zubak said. The U.S. administration
supported the Croat proposal on the establishment of the
Federation's forces.
After the talks with President Clinton, Croatian Foreign
Minister Mate Granic stated that Croatia's representatives at the
meeting were optimistic as regards chances for reaching agreement
on disputable issues in the Federation.
'Croatia firmly supports the strengthening of the Federation
as the foundation of Croatian-Bosniac relations', Granic said.
Highest U.S. officials who took part in the meeting confirmed
that Croatia was an important factor of peace and stability in the
region and an important factor in the strengthening of the
Federation, Granic added.
President Clinton announced that a U.S. business delegation
would visit Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia soon.
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