BILANDZIJA: HERZEG-BOSNIA NECESSARY IN TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

VITEZ, June 18 (Hina) - "Not all conditions have yet been set to put out the function of the Croatian Republic Herzeg-Bosnia. I'm particularly referring to the financial system, the Defense Act and some other legal projects of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina", Co-President of the Bosnian Federation government and member of the presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Drago Bilandzija, said on Tuesday. Commenting a Saturday decision of the Herzeg-Bosnian Presidential Council on the reshuffling of the Herzeg-Bosnian government, Bilandzija discarded comments of Bosniac partners in the Federation that Bosnian Croats did not respect the Dayton agreement, which stipulated that authority be transferred from Herzeg-Bosnia to the Federation and the cantons. Ministries had been reduced to 6 from 14, and a reduction of government officials, from 700 to 350 was on the way, Bilandzija said, adding that the Herzeg-Bosnian Presidential Council thus contributed to the putting out of Herzeg-Bosnia. "However, in a situation of the non-existence of a Federation tax-system, the putting out of the function of Herzeg-Bosnia would bring chaos in all areas financed by its budget. Until the whole financial system in the Federation is completed and counties start operating, the Croatian Republic Herzeg-Bosnia must function as a political arrangement in the transitional period", Bilandzija concluded. (hina) ha jn 181644 MET jun 96