PEACE IMPLEMENTATION COUNCIL ENCOURAGED BY CRO NEW AUTHORITIES

SARAJEVO, Feb 8 (Hina) - The Administrative Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) on Tuesday welcomed the election of Croatia's new government and the victory of Stipe Mesic at Croatia's presidential election for their clear support of the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH). According to a statement issued after a session in Brussels, the Board also welcomed the steps the international community's High Representative for BH, Wolfgang Petrisch, was taking towards the establishment of close contacts with new authorities in Zagreb, given Croatia's importance for peace in BH. The statement points out the PIC Administrative Board has concluded BH will hold municipal elections in April as planned. The holding of general elections, planned for October, will depend on whether the BH parliament complies with its constitutional obligation and without further delays pass a permanent electoral law, which is a condition for BH's access to full membership in the Council of Europe. The Administrative Board and Petrisch have agreed it is necessary to decrease armies in BH by another 15 percent in the course of the year, a decision which has already won the support of the BH Presidency. The Presidency has been urged to further engage in resolving difficulties in the work of the BH Council of Ministers. The PIC expects top officials in BH will show willingness to compromise. (hina) ha