HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, STABILITY PACT COORDINATOR MEET IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, March 17 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, and Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe coordinator Erhard Busek met in Sarajevo on Monday to discuss Ashdown's proposal for an anti- corruption headquarters for South-East Europe to be based in Sarajevo and a commission for the Sava river basin to be based in Brcko, in the north of the country. #L# Busek told reporters after the talks that at least one headquarters should be based in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Balkans is also a European region and it is vital to continue economic reforms and speed up privatisation in Balkan countries, he said. Ashdown voiced concern about the economic prospects of Bosnia- Herzegovina and the region. The world may be on the verge of a recession and war, he said, and the only way out for South-East Europe is to implement economic reforms and attract investors in the next several months, he said. The High Representative commended what he called the fast and energetic reaction of the Serbian government after the assassination of Premier Zoran Djindjic. Commenting on possible developments in Serbia following Djindjic's murder, Busek said he was a moderate optimist. (hina) rml