SOLJIC: B-H DEFENSE ACT LATE DUE TO NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF WASHINGT

WASHINGT $ ON AGREEMENT SARAJEVO, June 6 (Hina) - The Defense Act of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina would be adopted if Moslems decided to implement the Washington Agreement which tackled the points at issue of the Act, Defense Minister of the Bosnian Federation, Vladimir Soljic, told a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday. #L# Soljic pointed out that different opinions on the civil command of the federal army and the question whether recruits could freely choose on which side to serve the army were the main obstacles to the adoption of the Defense Act. "The Bosniac side is not satisfied with the federal solutions regarding defense as in the Dayton agreement and is now trying to shift as much authority as possible to the central authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina, that is the future three-member presidency", said Soljic, adding that it was inconceivable to exclude the President and Vice-President of the Federation from the command of the army. Soljic said that no agreement which would contribute to the solving of issues at stake had been reached during recent Geneva talks. "The talks were friendly and without obligations and what they focused on cannot become legal", said Soljic, adding that "President Zubak and Vice-President Ganic, and those above them, must decide on these issues." Soljic stressed that the current relations of the federal partners, especially regarding issues on defense, were hampered by two problems. The Bosniac side "is afraid of a possible secession of Croatian territories", whereas the Croatian side was rightly afraid of a possible forming of a new army in the Federation which would function like the former Yugoslav Federal Army (JNA) and protect the interests of only one people, Soljic concluded. (hina) ha jn 061746 MET jun 96