Illegal union of Croat municipalities

From Herzegovinian-Neretvian canton

Mostar, 1 August, 1997(AIM)- The press statement from Ministry of Justice and Administration of Herzegovinian- Neretvian canton, signed by minister Sadikovic says: " In connection to the statement of Union of Croat Municipalities Mostar from 31st of July, according to which the Ministry of Justice and Administration of this canton allegedly passed the approval with respect to justification of creation of such Union of municipalities in Mostar, I would like to announce the following:

In accordance to Paragraph 6. of Law on Governemnt of Herzegovinian - Neretvian canton, cantonal ministries are governed by ministers. In consideration of the previously mentioned, as the Minister of Justice and Administration, I would like to state officialy that this ministry never received any request for legal opinion with respect to association of municipalities with Croat majority into Union of Municipalities, and this ministry never discussed that issue, especially did it not give any sort of opinion in connection to the issue. I can conclude from he previous only that mentioned annoncement contains either a big lie announced for the sake of short-term political profit or similar to some earlier times, HZHB - Union of Croat
Municipalities of Mostar succeeded to get illegal collaboration of one of Croat mnisters of deputies in the cantonal Goernment and hence get an opinion with no legal validity. It is especially surprising that, although the alleged union was clearly judged by the OHR office and other international factors, as well as positive movoements evident lately, there are still existing circles capable of launching such lies, manipulating and incorrectly using even Ministry of Justice and Administration.

For these above named reasons, and on part of Ministry of Justice and administration of Herzegovinian- Neretvian canton which I govern, I would like to publicly deny the mentioned "Opinion", hoping that no one of ministers and deputies abused his position and hence caused this announcement.(end)