BOSNIA MUST HAVE SINGLE ARMY AND POLICE

SARAJEVO, July 13 (Hina) - Senior NATO officials and representatives of the international community working on the implementation of the Dayton agreement have stepped up pressures on Bosnian authorities demanding that they urgently reorganise the country's defence and military structures and reinforce its central bodies of authority. NATO Secretary-General George Robertson and ambassadors representing 19 member-countries of NATO's Permanent Council urged members of the Bosnian Presidency in Sarajevo on Friday to take concrete steps so that the country could soon have ministries of defence and internal affairs on the state level as well as a single army. The request came after the state leadership formally confirmed to the high NATO delegation its intention to request that the country be admitted to Partnership for Peace. Robertson told reporters the delegation was satisfied with the country's readiness to join Partnership for Peace but it had also made it clear that this entailed meeting previously set requirements. He explained that Bosnia's authorities were expected to reach an agreement on a joint security policy and establish parliamentary control and command over the armed forces on the state level. Bosnia-Herzegovina must also have a defence ministry on the state level, the NATO Secretary-General said. The strengthening of the central bodies of authority remains a general precondition for any further rapprochement with the European Union and NATO, he said. The chief commander of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), General Michael Dodson, said that along with an integrated defence ministry and army the country should also have a ministry of interior affairs on the state level. According to the country's current constitutional organisation, the entities have all powers regarding defence, military and police affairs while the new organisation would require the revision of entity and state constitutions. General Dodson, however, believes this is not an insoluble problem. Recalling that the state presidency has already agreed on a joint defence policy, Dodson said from this followed the possibility of establishing an army on the state level. The Dayton agreement was the basis for putting an end to the war. The country's constitution, however, is a living document which can be changed according to the country's needs, the chief SFOR commander said. If there is political will, everything is possible, NATO Secretary- General Robertson said. (hina) sb rml