BOSNIAN BISHOPS RECEIVE HERZEG-BOSNIAN DELEGATION

MOSTAR, May 8 (Hina/HABENA) - Archbishop of the Bosnian Archdiocese (with its centre in Sarajevo), Msgr. Vinko Puljic, and Bishop of the Banja Luka diocese (northwestern Bosnia, now mostly under Serb control), Msgr. Franjo Komarica, received last evening a delegation of the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna (HR HB) in Split (southern Croatia). They discussed the position of Croats in the areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina under Serb control, reported the HR HB information office on Sunday. There have been recently more and more reports and evidence on abuse and persecution of the Croat and non-Serb inhabitants in the regions controlled by Bosnian Serbs. That is why the Roman- Catholic Church authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Herzeg- Bosnian government are to fulfill their commitments in protection of civil, religious and other rights of the jeopardized Croats. They are planning to undertake necessary steps in this aspect. A special delegation of the Herzeg-Bosnian government is scheduled to visit soon the mostly Croat-populated areas in the northwestern Bosnia (the so-called Bosnian Krajina under Serb control). The delegation will visit other parts of Bosnia- Herzegovina as well. The Herzeg-Bosnian House of Representatives and the presidential council will be regularly informed of developments and position of Croats in those areas. Reports on the situation and protection of civil rights of Croats in those areas will be also sent to international humanitarian agencies and organizations for protection of human rights, according to the statement issued today by the information office of the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna. 081403 MET may 94