OHR AGAINST HALILOVIC'S RETURN TO MINISTERIAL DUTY

SARAJEVO, Jan 8 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina (OHR), suggested to the Bosnian Federation government to think carefully before making a decision about whether Sefer Halilovic, indicted for war crimes, should be reinstated as the federal minister for refugees and social policy. OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic said on Tuesday that the final decision lays with the federal ministers, but stressed that they had to consider the reactions of those who are personally affected with the crimes for which Halilovic had also been indicted. "A person indicted for war crimes can hardly enjoy the trust of all staff of the ministry he is supposed to be at the helm of", Milisic said. The issue of hiring a retired general and war-time commander of the Bosnian Army, Halilovic, has, after a period of silence, re-emerged into the first plan of political discussions in Bosnia. After a decision by the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal to temporarily release Halilovic until the start of trial, he immediately expressed wish to be reinstated as minister. Halilovic's attorney Faruk Balijagic claimed that for this he had received the approval by the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia had also stated there were no legal obstacles for Halilovic to return to his former duty. Public offices are forbidden only to people who do not wish to hand themselves over to the tribunal or were convicted of war crimes. The ruling coalition partners are expected to find a compromise solution. (hina) lml sb