ZUBAK: FEDERATION REACHES IMPASSE

SARAJEVO, 12 Feb (Hina) - 'I believe that Bosniac officials from the state and Federation leadership had nothing to do with Mostar incidents', President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kresimir Zubak, told a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday. Zubak said he held talks with the President of the Bosnian Presidency Alija Izetbegovic immediately after the incidents occurred. He recalled that the international community had accepted his proposal that an independent commission investigate the causes and the course of Mostar incidents, so that tensions could be lessened. He also warned that the incidents in Mostar, as well as 'Lijanovic case', were only consequences of a stalemate in the establishment of Federation bodies of authority on all levels. 'Mostar incidents only blur the essence of real problems', Zubak said. The biggest current problem is the establishment of bodies of authority in two cantons with parity system and the establishment of new municipalities and their legal bodies of authority. Those issues, as well as the election of the new Federation president and vice president , would be discussed at a session of the Federation Forum, announced for Thursday, he said. Zubak said he had rejected a request by Federation Premier Edhem Bicakcic to relieve Bicakcic's deputy and Finance Minister Drago Bilandzija of his duties because Bilandzija exempted the company 'Lijanovic' from customs taxes. Bicakcic' s request was not founded as minister Bilandzija had made his decision on the basis of his legal powers, Zubak said. Also unfounded was Bicakcic's request that 23 million German marks be paid to the Federation budget because of the decision on exempting 'Lijanovic' from customs taxes, since the company had not realised the approved import and the Federation budget had not been damaged, Zubak said. He warned though that the investigation into 'Lijanovic case' had resulted in evidence on other numerous irregularities in the customs policy. According to those findings, the Bosnian budget had been damaged by DM 57 million last year. All those cases would be investigated and perpetrators would be held responsible, Zubak said. (hina) rm jn 121515 MET feb 97