MOSTAR'S CRO MUNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED IN LINE WITH E

LINE WITH E $ UROPEAN CHARTER MOSTAR, July 31 (Hina) - The Mostar Croat Municipalities Association on Thursday requested the Justice and Administration Ministry of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton to voice a legal opinion concerning the association of municipalities with Croat majority into an association of municipalities, due to pressure, retractions and numerous unfounded claims made in the media in relation to the said Association, the Association's Information Service said in a statement. The cantonal Justice and Administration Ministry, the statement said, voiced the opinion that, in line with the European Charter on Local Self- Government, local authorities have, in implementing their duties, the right to cooperate and, according to the law, to team up with other local authorities in carrying out tasks of common interest. The statement also recalled the provisions of a law on the principles of local self-government, passed by the Constituent Assembly of Bosnia- Herzegovina in 1995, which envisages that "in implementing their duties, municipalities have the right to cooperate with other municipalities in carrying out tasks of common interest, and may to this effect join in associations of municipalities, in line with the Constitution and the law". Article 54 of Mostar's Transitional Statute, the statement pointed out, as an enforcement regulation agreed on by the Croat and Bosniak (Muslim) parties in Mostar, adjusts the said issue identically. In carrying out public tasks, Mostar's municipalities may cooperate, join means and train joint bodies, organizations and services, the statement completed. (hina) ha mm 311335 MET jul 97