SARAJEVO, May 16 (Hina) - Senior officials of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosnia's Croat-Muslim entity) Defence Ministry and representatives of the self-disbanded Croat component of the Federation Army on Wednesday reached a
political agreement about the resolution of the crisis caused by the Croat National Congress's (HNS) decision to not recognise the federal authorities. Together with a former commander of the Federation Army First Guard Corps, Mijo Jelic, a former commander of the Third Brigade, Mario Bradar, and the chairman of the Federation Parliament's House of Peoples, Ivo Komsic, Federation Defence Minister Mijo Anic announced in Sarajevo agreement had been reached on ways to solve the crisis in the functioning of the federal army. Addressing a news conference, Anic and two other high-ranking Croat officers who had been replaced previously, confirmed that all members of the Croat component of
SARAJEVO, May 16 (Hina) - Senior officials of the Federation of
Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosnia's Croat-Muslim entity) Defence
Ministry and representatives of the self-disbanded Croat component
of the Federation Army on Wednesday reached a political agreement
about the resolution of the crisis caused by the Croat National
Congress's (HNS) decision to not recognise the federal
authorities.
Together with a former commander of the Federation Army First Guard
Corps, Mijo Jelic, a former commander of the Third Brigade, Mario
Bradar, and the chairman of the Federation Parliament's House of
Peoples, Ivo Komsic, Federation Defence Minister Mijo Anic
announced in Sarajevo agreement had been reached on ways to solve
the crisis in the functioning of the federal army.
Addressing a news conference, Anic and two other high-ranking Croat
officers who had been replaced previously, confirmed that all
members of the Croat component of the Federation Army would return
to work. The chairman of the House of Peoples, Ivo Komsic, said a
solution had been found for the current crisis.
Anic explicitly confirmed that all 7,225 soldiers and officers who
were professional soldiers before Ante Jelavic, head of Bosnia's
Croat Democratic Union (HDZ), ordered that they disband, would be
able to return to work.
In the next 15 to 20 days, he said, the Defence Ministry will
register all Croat members of the Federation Army and all military
facilities in that period will be secured by guards alone.
General Mijo Jelic, who had previously denied loyalty to the
federal authorities, today said he recognised Minister Anic.
Officials who attended today's news conference called on Bosnian
Croats to refrain from protests against the federal authorities.
According to Anic, Bosnia-Herzegovina's armed forces, including
Croat troops, will be reduced, but only in line with the process
which will happen on the level of the state.
Once the simultaneous reduction of all armed forces in the country
is completed, the Croat component of the federal army should have
2,500 professional soldiers.
(hina) sb rml