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The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, in
a letter sent today to RS Vice-President Dragen Cavic, replied to concerns
raised by Mr Cavic regarding the constitutional amendments in the Federation and
the status of the constituent peoples in the Cantons of the Federation. The High
Representative agreed that the letter and spirit of the Mrakovica-Sarajevo
Agreement of 27 March 2002 must be implemented in full in both the Republika
Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to ensure the
constituency of the Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats throughout the territory of BiH.
The High Representative noted that the agreement provides for the
harmonization of the Cantons constitutions with its principles. In his letter,
the High Representative clarified the fact that according to the agreement
"within nine months of the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina the principles which are contained in the
Agreement shall be applied to the Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. It is further provided that vital interest protection mechanisms
shall be established in the Cantons and minimum representation has to be
guaranteed with regard to the Cantonal Governments."
The High Representatives stated, that "the principle and the relevant article
of the Agreement of 27 March is reflected in the proposed changes to the
Federation Constitution as put forward by the Government of the Federation on 4
April 2002."
The High Representative assured Mr Cavic that he and his office will insist
on the timely and consistent implementation of these principles in line with the
letter and spirit of the Mrakovica-Sarajevo Agreement of 27 March 2002 and the
ruling of the Constitutional Court.
In this context the High Representative wishes to underline that the
Agreement was concluded following a lengthy process of negotiation where the
concerns of all negotiation partners had been raised and dealt with.
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