Excerpts from the Speech by Kresimir Zubak delivered at the 16th session of the parliament of the Croatian republic of Herzeg-Bosna
Hrvatski List, 5/5/95, Mostar/Siroki Brijeg, HR Herceg-Bosna (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hrvatski List was founded and is partly financed by the government of the Croatian Republic (HR) of Herzeg-Bosna
-Different concepts of internal organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina were the fundamental cause of the fighting between the Muslims and us in 1993. The Washington agreement was a turning point, as far as the armed clashes are concerned. We accepted together the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its confederation with the republic of Croatia. We accepted the principle of absolute equality, without majority rule and discrimination of any kind. We treat the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a lasting model of the organization of the relationship with the Muslims, and not as a temporary solution. However, more than a year after signing of the Washington agreement there are still no visible results in implementation of the Constitution [of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]. Still strong within the muslim leadership is a faction which wants a multiethnic and multicultural state, which is simply a phrase hiding a wish for domination. Situation in the field is the best proof of that. The Croats are still leaving the territory under the control of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are not interested in Bosnia and Herzegovina as such nor is our goal secession. Herzeg-Bosna is not a counterpart of the so-called republic Srpska since we have never stepped out of our national [ethnic] space. We simply want our freedom. We will never be a minority and we do not need a cultural autonomy but a constitutive nation status and absolute equality.
-Both us and the Muslims showed our hands and clearly stated our opinions about each other. There must not remain a single point of contention which could return us to the beginning. We should support those muslim politicians who have European orientation and who sincerely support equality and correctly interpret the Constitution of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In any case, our cooperation with the republic of Croatia should not bother the Muslims. We were artificially separated, it is known when and by whom, and therefore we say YES to the federation but only along with the compulsory YES to the confederation with the republic of Croatia. We won't accept any other associations [i.e. links with the federal republic of Yugoslavia].
Translated on 7/16/95
