Vecernji List – ‘Evening Post’ a national newspaper of Bosnia and Herzegovina

August 11, 2014,; page 1; by Zoran Kresic

Courtesy of HYPERLINK "

NEW RESOLUTION

Congresswoman Janice Hahn requested the appointment of a special envoy.

US should stop the weakening of the political position and economic rights of Croats in Bosnia.

INITIATIVE

Hahn warns that continued weakening of Croats leads to political instability in state of BiH.

Janice Hahn sent the Congress a resolution which requires that the president Barack Obama appoints US special representative for BiH. She warned the constant reduction of Rights for Croats within the Federation of BiH (FBiH), the Croat and Bosniak-muslim western internal state-let, causes political blockage and delays in progress for the entire country.

Croats halved

The representative from California has submitted resolution 705 in procedure as a result of support development by National Federation Croatian Americans (NFCA) and is similar to resolution previously sent by Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) to US Senate. A new resolution highlights a 'fully functional FBiH is key for the future of BiH as effective and stable nation-state. Any planned reform of the Dayton Peace Accords should take into account better protection of the constituent rights of all in BiH, especially Croats to prevent any future weakening of position.’

Congresswoman Hahn at the same time warned that the number of Croats in BiH is now halved.

However, it is currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina remained around 460,000 Croat Bosnians.

“It is not acceptable this negative demographic reflecting the trend in reducing constitutional rights of Croats in BiH, as this reduction law directly causing political and administrative dysfunctional country,” said Hahn resolution. She invited President Obama to appoint a special presidential envoy for the Balkans which would together with NATO, EU and OHR mediate the implementation of reforms at all levels in Bosnian society. She was explaining satisfactory reasons for filing resolution stressed that the protests in February showed many current weaknesses in nation of BiH.

“As a representative of the 44th district California, areas enriched by Croatian culture, I heard first-hand concerns arising from the growth of political instability in BiH. We have an obligation to support democratic development and the establishment of free markets. It is difficult to set this up well in this new state during last two decades”, ocijenila Hahn.

Obama

Within a year of days the envoy of President to summit reforms to US Congress that would meet the interests of Croats

A frozen conflict

“Relationship to Croats in BiH has dramatically eventually deteriorated over time. Domestic step forward in BiH is to protect equal political and economic relationship and rights of the Croats. Not easy to see way forward in the midst of these internal problem” - rated President NFCA Paul Tonšetić Kunder. He also called for the appointment of special Representative from USA for BiH, and he thanked these important efforts of Congresswoman Hahn and her talented staff.

Association of American Croats, NFCA, successfully lobbied for their countrymen in Bosnia.