Opposition in strong reaction to Mostar deal

SARAJEVO Bosnia's opposition parties have strongly condemned an agreement on the program of action that has been confirmed by the six most influential parties. The agreement should provide the basis for activities of the new authorities on the state level. Opposition in strong reaction to Mostar deal "We will prevent the implementation of the agreement by all democratic means as we have prevented the implementation of the agreement from Karadjordjevo, and the (Mate) Boban-(Radovan) Karadzic agreement," leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman Tihic said, alluding to earlier attempts of territorial division of Bosnia. The SDA deemed that the deal reached by the so-called Six - the basis of which is a previous agreement of the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Zlatko Lagumdzija and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) Milorad Dodik - is a prelude to the formation of a third entity in the country and of "reducing the Bosniaks (Muslims) to a political minority". The SDA considers it "unacceptable" to transfer powers to choose prosecutors, public service organization, regulation of the functioning of the Central Bank and the electrical grid company to entities. The Party for Bosnia (SBosnia) assessed that the Mostar agreement means an announcement of procedures harmful and dangerous for Bosnia-Herzegovina and its citizens. Indications of a possible distribution of state assets among entities are considered particularly problematic by the critics, who are warning that it would be "direct attack on the statehood, integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina" Our Party (NS), founded by Oscar-winner Danis Tanovic, and which is represented in the FBiH assembly and some district councils, assessed that the real purpose of the agreement was "a continuation of ethnic territorialization of the Federation and Bosnia and strengthening of the political monopoly through the weakening of state institutions". "Although presented as an act of progress, the agreement is in fact an announcement of a deepening constitutional and political crisis in the country," a statement from the party said. All citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the international community were invited "to engage in the the prevention of the Mostar agreement implementation". The leaders of the new ruling Six in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday in Mostar signed a document which sues a nine-point format to speak in principle of the measures "on which they intend to act" in the next two years. The document mentions constitutional solutions that will guarantee institutional equality of all peoples and citizens, harmonization of legislation with that of the European Union, a reconstruction of the Federation authorities, and resolving the status of civilian and military assets. The leaders gave their support in general to agreements previously reached by the SNSD and SDP, which is a detailed plan for changing the method of electing prosecutors, the functioning of the Central Bank and electoral legislation reforms. A new ruling majority was also established, comprised of the SDP, the SNSD, ethnic Croat parties HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990, the Alliance for a Better Future (SBB) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). This majority will face its first test on Thursday, when the Representative House of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament is expected to convene, with election of a Bosniak deputy chair of that body on the agenda. Last month Denis Becirovic of the SDP was sacked from that post at the request of the Serb parties from the RS, who are today SDP's coalition partners. For that reason, the party has said that Becirovic could be re-nominated to the same position. Tanjug

Opposition in strong reaction to Mostar deal

"We will prevent the implementation of the agreement by all democratic means as we have prevented the implementation of the agreement from Karađorđevo, and the (Mate) Boban-(Radovan) Karadžić agreement," leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman Tihić said, alluding to earlier attempts of territorial division of Bosnia.

The SDA deemed that the deal reached by the so-called Six - the basis of which is a previous agreement of the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Zlatko Lagumdžija and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) Milorad Dodik - is a prelude to the formation of a third entity in the country and of "reducing the Bosniaks (Muslims) to a political minority".

The SDA considers it "unacceptable" to transfer powers to choose prosecutors, public service organization, regulation of the functioning of the Central Bank and the electrical grid company to entities.

The Party for Bosnia (SBosnia) assessed that the Mostar agreement means an announcement of procedures harmful and dangerous for Bosnia-Herzegovina and its citizens.
Indications of a possible distribution of state assets among entities are considered particularly problematic by the critics, who are warning that it would be "direct attack on the statehood, integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina"

Our Party (NS), founded by Oscar-winner Danis Tanović, and which is represented in the FBiH assembly and some district councils, assessed that the real purpose of the agreement was "a continuation of ethnic territorialization of the Federation and Bosnia and strengthening of the political monopoly through the weakening of state institutions".

"Although presented as an act of progress, the agreement is in fact an announcement of a deepening constitutional and political crisis in the country," a statement from the party said.

All citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the international community were invited "to engage in the the prevention of the Mostar agreement implementation".

The leaders of the new ruling Six in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday in Mostar signed a document which sues a nine-point format to speak in principle of the measures "on which they intend to act" in the next two years.

The document mentions constitutional solutions that will guarantee institutional equality of all peoples and citizens, harmonization of legislation with that of the European Union, a reconstruction of the Federation authorities, and resolving the status of civilian and military assets.

The leaders gave their support in general to agreements previously reached by the SNSD and SDP, which is a detailed plan for changing the method of electing prosecutors, the functioning of the Central Bank and electoral legislation reforms.

A new ruling majority was also established, comprised of the SDP, the SNSD, ethnic Croat parties HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990, the Alliance for a Better Future (SBB) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS).

This majority will face its first test on Thursday, when the Representative House of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament is expected to convene, with election of a Bosniak deputy chair of that body on the agenda.

Last month Denis Bećirović of the SDP was sacked from that post at the request of the Serb parties from the RS, who are today SDP's coalition partners.

For that reason, the party has said that Bećirović could be re-nominated to the same position.