SARAJEVO HDZ BH PROTESTS OVER SDA-PROCLAIMED CITY STATUTE

( Editorial: --> 2922 ) SARAJEVO, June 22 (Hina) - The Sarajevo cantonal branch of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH HDZ) Monday requested the intervention of the international High Representative for BH to prevent the arbitrariness of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in a recent proclamation of the Sarajevo City Statute. According to the Sarajevo HDZ BH, the said statute is contrary to a proposal representatives of the Croat and Muslim peoples previously adjusted. The Sarajevo HDZ BH forwarded a letter to High Representative Carlos Westendorp claiming the statute was proclaimed without the participation of Croat representatives and that it abolishes the authorities of non-Muslim officials in Sarajevo city bodies. This statute was proclaimed on June 17 despite the remarks representatives of Westendorp's office had to its provisions. The demands made in relation to the matter by representatives of the Social Democratic Party were also disregarded. "This is another big blow to the Sarajevo Declaration and to the programme on the return of (non-Muslims) to the capital of BH", said the Sarajevo HDZ BH letter, which was also forwarded to embassies of Contact Group member-countries and of Croatia. (hina) ha 221905 MET jun 98