BOSNIAN POSAVINA CANTON FORMS GOVERNMENT, ADOPTS DECLARATION

ORASJE, Nov 24 (Hina) - The Posavina Canton assembly held the second session at Orasje (northern Bosnia), on Saturday. It formed a government and adopted a Declaration at the session. The assembly's members also discussed amendments to the Posavina Canton Constitution and to laws on ministries. The prime minister of the formed government is Neven Djukic (of the municipality of Odzak), and the government consists of nine ministries. Eight Croats and one Moslem will take office of ministries. The Declaration says that the Bosnian Posavina is a Bosnian Croat and Moslem area, according to its history, geography, transport characteristics, economy, culture, folklore and demography. Croats and Moslems were two thirds of the entire population in Bosnian Posavina's eight municipalities: Derventa, Bosanski Brod, Odzak, Bosanski Samac, Orasje, Brcko, Gradacac and Modrica as well as at Croat villages within the municipality of Doboj, until the aggression of Serb armed force that began in 1992. The Declaration also says that "the peace accord on Bosnia- Herzegovina, unfortunately, has failed to respect those facts," but it has envisaged the return of all refugees to their homes. However, almost nothing has been done to make for over 100,000 Croats and Moslems possible to return. The Declaration criticizes the separation line between the (Croat-Moslem) Federation and the Serb entity that halve municipalities, residential developments with a Croat majority, and "even family houses," and demands from Croat and Moslem leaders as well as from international organizations "to make correction of the separation line" so that the eastern and the western part of the Posavina Canton may be joined. The Declaration asks from international arbitrators in the issue of the Brcko municipality to make possible for Croat and Moslem areas within the municipality to be linked with the Posavina Canton. Wherever changes or corrections were not possible, the return of Moslem and Croat refugees should be organized and their self- rule founded, according to the Declaration. The Posavina Canton assembly sent a letter to Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman wishing him a speedy and successful recuperation and expressing joy that President Tudjman had returned to Croatia. The Croat member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-member presidency, Kresimir Zubak, attended the Orasje session. (hina) mš 241050 MET nov 96