HERZEGOVINA CANTON ASSEMBLY FAILS TO ADOPT LAWS ON JUDICIARY

( Editorial: --> 3901 ) MOSTAR, 12 Jan (Hina) - At a session held in Mostar on Monday, the Assembly of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton failed to adopt laws on the judiciary and prosecutor's office. The Croat and Bosniak (Moslem) sides were expected to reach an agreement on the two laws. The deadline for their adoption expired on 31 December last year. After a four-hour session which was held behind closed doors, the President of the Assembly, Hamo Maslesa, said that the two sides failed to reach an agreement on powers of canton and municipal courts and the number of courts in the canton. The most disputed issue was the town of Mostar, with the Croat side proposing six municipal courts and the Bosniak side only one. Asked whether the international community would arbitrate in case of the two laws, the head of the Mostar office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Martin Garrod, said he would first consult the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo. (hina) mm rm 121816 MET jan 98