DECLARATION BY EU PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF EUROPEAN UNION ON MOSTAR

MOSTAR $ ZAGREB, 26 July (Hina) - Ambassadors of the European Union troika on Friday met with the aide to Croatia's Foreign Minister, Hidajet Biscevic, and delivered a protest note by the European Union, concerning the Mostar elections. The Dutch Embassy in Zagreb forwarded the note entitled 'Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on Mostar' to the Croatian news agency Hina. This is the full text of the protest note: "The European Union expresses its grave concern over the failure of the Croat party in Mostar to show genuine commitment to the reunification of the city which was administered by the Union until 23 July, 1996. The Joint Action of the European Union adopted by the General Affairs Council on 15 July provides for the appointment of a Special Envoy to ensure the transfer of responsibilities to a unified local administration, on the basis provided by the elections of 30 June. Entry into effect of the Joint Action is subject to the cooperation of the local parties, based on acceptance of, and support for, its terms. The basic conditions for the entry into effect of the Joint Action have not to date been met and it has consequently not yet come into effect, owing to the Croat side's refusal to accept the terms of the Joint Action and to participate in such a unified local administration. The European Union wishes it to be made clear that all parties, with the exception of the local Croats, have given assurances of their readiness to accept a continued EU presence on the basis of the Joint Action. The European Union remains fully committed to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement of 10 November, 1995 and the other agreements which relate to the Federation and to Mostar in particular. It urges the Croat side to adopt a constructive approach henceforth and to cooperate with the Bosniac party in Mostar with a view to forming a unified local administration without further delay in the interests of peace and stability in the city. The European Union stresses the importance of developments in Mostar in the context of the wider peace process. The European Union therefore also urges the authorities of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina to do all within their powers to assist in resolving the impasse which exists as a result of non- cooperation by the Croat side. The European Union further calls upon the Republic of Croatia to shoulder its responsibility for the behaviour of the local Croats and to exercise its influence, which the EU believes to be crucial, with a view to ensuring that the conditions necessary for the entry into force of the EU Joint Action are met by 3 August. In the absence of cooperation from the Croats on the terms proposed, the European Union will have no choice but to terminate its presence in Mostar and reconsider its future attitude toward the Croat side". (hina) rm 262026 MET jul 96