SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - Representative of the Serbian Citizens' Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina Miro Lazovic told a news conference on Monday that the federal concept brought forward by the Washington Agreements should be extended to the whole of Bosnia- Herzegovina. "We consider the concept as favourable to Bosnian Serbs as the second most numerous people in Bosnia-Herzegovina. If the concept is not accepted, then a great number of Serbs living on the territory of the Bosnian-Croat Federation will fall in the category of "minorities," although they account for as big a share in the total population as the Croats," said Lazovic. President of the Serbian Citizen's Forum and Bosnian Presidency member Mirko Pejanovic said the Forum's membership consisted of "people who considered Bosnia-Herzegovina as their country" and who supported Bosnia-Herzegovina within its internationally recognised borders. "After two years of war, some 600,000 Serbs are living on the territory controlled by Karadzic. They account for 45 percent of the pre-war Serbian population (1,300,000 people). Between 150,000 and 200,000 Serbs are living in the areas controlled by the Bosnian army, mostly in Sarajevo and Tuzla, while 400,000 have fled the country," Pejanovic told reporters. "Tightening the circle around Karadzic depends largely on the position of Serbs in the Bosniac-Croat Federation," said Pejanovic. Seconded by Lazovic, he pleaded for the Serbs to be given the status of constituent people in the new Federation. The Forum is a movement of Serbs loyal to Bosnian Government. At its first assembly held two months ago in Sarajevo, the Forum appointed the Council as its executive body. 161846 MET may 94