SARAJEVO MEDIA WELCOME KOSTUNICA'S VISIT

SARAJEVO, Oct 23 (Hina) - High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina Wolfgang Petritsch said on Monday Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's visit to Sarajevo was a sign that he recognised the importance of relations between the countries. Kostunica's visit to Sarajevo is very important because relations between Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are of crucial importance for the situation in the region, Petritsch told reporters. Petritsch said he did not attend Sunday's talks at Sarajevo airport between Kostunica and members of the BH state presidency because he wanted the meeting to be used for the two countries' officials to exchange opinions. According to the Austrian diplomat, Kostunica has demonstrated his responsibility as a statesman with the visit. Relations between Belgrade and Sarajevo are as important as those between Sarajevo and Zagreb, he said. Kostunica's sudden visit received huge media coverage, being treated as a historic event. In a commentary published in 'Dnevni avaz' daily, Kostunica is hailed for avoiding the 'thin ice' some Bosnian Serb politicians tried to get him on by inviting him to only visit Trebinje. By doing what he did, he proved that the disgraceful legacy his predecessor has left him can be changed indeed, the Sarajevo daily said. (hina) rml