Raguž: If HDZ wanted what's good for Croats, it would pass a declaration concerning the future, not the past

STOLAC, (Patria) - The Assembly of Canton 10 adopted a Declaration rejecting the Hague verdict against former high-ranking officials of the Croatian Community of Herceg Bosna, as well as the construct of a joint criminal enterprise by that court.

The Declaration emphasizes that "HR HB was not founded with the intention of secession, but with the intention of defending Croatian areas."

"Croats in BiH are a constituent nation and we will not allow further attempts at systemic discrimination of Croats," it states, among other things, in the adopted declaration. The Bosniak Caucus raised the issue of vital national interest, after which the Constitutional Court of the FBiH will decide on the validity of the Declaration.

Former activist, now member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP BiH) in Stolac, Luka Raguž, told the Patria agency that the Declaration is an obvious pre-election trick by HDZ BiH, "whose popularity is declining in all cantons in the Federation of BiH," and that the party is trying to alarm the voter base in this way.

"Why didn't HDZ pass a declaration for Croatia to pay Livno and Tomislavgrad 30 million KM annually for the exploitation of Buško Lake, which would revive the economy in these municipalities and stop people, primarily Croats, from leaving the area," Raguž points out, adding that such a "declaration of the future" would be a genuine fight for the Croatian people in BiH, unlike the Declaration that takes citizens back to the past.

"Or, for example, why didn't they pass a declaration for mothers to receive the average salary in the Federation for a year after childbirth," adds Raguž, firmly convinced that raising national tensions cannot bring good to anyone except a few politicians.

The adoption of the Declaration in Livno Canton was also condemned by the OHR and the US Embassy in BiH, calling on politicians to turn to the future and not the past.