UNDUE EMPHASIS ON MOSTAR INCIDENTS OBFUSCATES OTHER PROBLEMS - ZUB

ZUB $ AK MOSTAR, Dec 13 (Hina) - Events in Mostar were being unduly emphasised to "obfuscate problems in other parts of the Federation, specifically what is happening to Bosnian Croats," Bosnian Federation President and member of the B-H Presidency, Kresimir Zubak, told reporters on Friday. These incidents had been masterminded by those who did not wish well to the Croats, he said. "These incidents are being deliberately used to promote the idea that Mostar is a den of iniquity and that the Mostar authorities and the political structures of the Croatian people controll them, which is not true at all," Zubak explained. While the Croatian side should assume greater responsbility for any criminal acts occurring in Mostar, wasn't it suspicious how these incidents usually heated up just before important international conferences on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zubak pondered. The Croatian side was particularly dissatisfied with the "Sarajevo media and the information they provided about events in Bosnia-Herzegovina," Zubak said. The matter would be discussed at today's Federation Forum session in Mostar, Zubak added. Discussing the likely fate of Brcko, which is to be decided by arbitration proceedings, Zubak said it should be adjudicated to the Federation since Croats and Moslems constituted a majority in this town according to the 1991 census. The Croatian side would not accept an extension of the corridor south of Brcko because these areas were mostly populated by Croats and had been defended by HVO (Croatian Defence Council), Zubak said. Asked whether the Croatian side would consider territorial exchanges with the Bosnian Serb side, Zubak said the matter had not been discussed yet, but such arrangements were possible if both sides agreed, which in turn depended on the overall settlement of the Bosnian crisis. (hina) jn as 131846 MET dec 96