BOSNIA'S FEDERAL ARMY TO BE REDUCED BY APRIL 1?

SARAJEVO, Feb 4 (Hina) - The defence minister of Bosnia's Federation announced on Monday the reduction of the federal army would be completed by April 1, but pointed out that parts of the ruling structures constantly objected to the process. The expected reorganisation of the federal army must no longer be postponed, Minister Mijo Anic said during talks with a consultant of a special British parliamentary team for defence, Sir Nevile Trotter. According to plans for the reduction of the armies of Bosnia's two entities, the military of the Croat-Muslim federation has to be cut from 23,000 to 13,000 soldiers, and that of the Serb entity from 10,000 to 6,600. The chief commander of NATO's Stabilisation Force, Gen. John Sylvester, said last week that Bosnia's economy could not afford to finance more than 10,500 soldiers. Minister Anic agreed, and was quoted in the Vecernji List daily of Monday as saying he would propose concrete measures for the implementation of that plan very soon. According to some estimates, the federal government would have to secure some EUR65 million to provide for 10,000 military staff that will become redundant by year's end. (hina) ha