KOSCHNIK REFUSES TO OPEN NERETVA BRIDGE OVER TWO CROAT FLAGS

MOSTAR, Feb 24 (Hina) - A bridge over the Neretva river which was supposed to have been opened today by the EU Administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik, was instead opened by Jadran Topic, leader of the local branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. The bridge is situated in Potoci, a village about 10 km north of Mostar, and its construction was sponsored by the European Union administration of Mostar. Croat officials said that Koschnik would not open the bridge while two Croat flags adorned it. But Potocani residents rejected Koschnik's condition arguing that the population on both banks of the Neretva river was predominantly Croat. After Koschnik failed to appear on time and after waiting for over an hour, Topic cut the ribbon and opened the new bridge and the local parish priest Jakov Renic, blessed it. When it was opened local residents and guests led by senior Croat officials crossed the bridge. "Flags are not a problem to us. Everone has the right to their flag and we don't object to other people's flags," Herzeg-Bosnian Premier Jadranko Prlic told reporters. As yet there has been no official response from the EU Mostar administration. (hina) sd vm 241609 MET feb 95