HAYS: BOSNIA MUST CHANGE LEGISLATION

MOSTAR, Sept 28 (Hina) - Donald Hays, chief deputy to the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has said in Mostar priorities in the world have changed since September 11, the day terrorist attacks were carried out on the United States. Asked how that change in international priorities would reflect on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hays, who was on a visit to Mostar, said Bosnia-Herzegovina depended on international assistance and had to change its legislation if it wanted to keep the interest of the international community. Asked to comment on today's statement by the interior minister of the Croat-Muslim entity, Muhamed Besic, that several dozen persons from Afghanistan, linked to Osama bin Laden, could enter Bosnia- Herzegovina, and if this would jeopardise the safety of international staff in the country, Hays said he felt safe and was familiar with the efforts of the Bosnian authorities to find persons possibly linked to terrorism. Answering a question about the request of a group of Muslim intellectuals that a Catholic cross erected on a hill overlooking Mostar be removed, Hays said political orientation and religion were not discussed in his country (the United States) and he believed such an approach could be useful for Bosnia as well. He called on local officials to establish a joint canton budget and promote the joint work of the police as well as the health system and education in the canton. (hina) rml