SARAJEVO, Dec 3 (Hina) - The founding session of Bosnia-Herzegovina's House of Representatives was discontinued on Tuesday when Serb representatives walked out in protest against the High Representative's decision to proclaim a new
law on the Bosnian Council of Ministers.
SARAJEVO, Dec 3 (Hina) - The founding session of Bosnia-
Herzegovina's House of Representatives was discontinued on Tuesday
when Serb representatives walked out in protest against the High
Representative's decision to proclaim a new law on the Bosnian
Council of Ministers. #L#
After the MPs, elected at the October general election, were sworn
in, representatives of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) said they
would not take part in the further work of the parliament, as they
disagreed with Paddy Ashdown's decision to proclaim the new law on
the ministerial council, under which the composition of the Bosnian
government would be considerably enlarged.
Instead of the current six ministries, the council shall have eight
ministries on the state level, and the council's chairman shall
have substantially wider authorities and a full four-year term of
office.
Following SDS deputies, representatives from other Serb parties
walked out of the session as well.
It is not possible to set up a new Council of Ministers without the
previous constitution of the parliament.
The Croat and Muslim (Bosniak) members of the newly elected Bosnian
three-man Presidency, Dragan Covic and Sulejman Tihic
respectively, condemned the conduct of the Serb deputies, while the
Serb member of the Presidency, Mirko Sarovic, declined to comment
on the boycott.
The continuation of the founding session of the House of
Representatives has not been scheduled.
(hina) ms sb