SARAJEVO, Oct 27 (Hina) - The 1995 Dayton peace accord which ended the conflict in Bosnia should not be changed but agreement to incite its integral implementation is possible, United States Ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke
said on Friday. There have been similar agreements in the past and they can be expected in the future, he told a news conference in Sarajevo, reminding that new talks had helped settling many contentious issues, for instance the distribution of ambassadorial seats or the introduction of a uniform passport for all Bosnian citizens. Holbrooke arrived in the Bosnian capital on Thursday. He stopped in Mostar and Srebrenica, and today held talks with state presidency members Zivko Radisic, Ante Jelavic, and Halid Genjac. He told reporters a joint analysis of the implementation of the Dayton accord indicated that the document's principal objectives, ending the war and establishing
SARAJEVO, Oct 27 (Hina) - The 1995 Dayton peace accord which ended
the conflict in Bosnia should not be changed but agreement to incite
its integral implementation is possible, United States Ambassador
to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke said on Friday.
There have been similar agreements in the past and they can be
expected in the future, he told a news conference in Sarajevo,
reminding that new talks had helped settling many contentious
issues, for instance the distribution of ambassadorial seats or the
introduction of a uniform passport for all Bosnian citizens.
Holbrooke arrived in the Bosnian capital on Thursday. He stopped in
Mostar and Srebrenica, and today held talks with state presidency
members Zivko Radisic, Ante Jelavic, and Halid Genjac.
He told reporters a joint analysis of the implementation of the
Dayton accord indicated that the document's principal objectives,
ending the war and establishing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a
sovereign and internationally recognised country, had been
achieved.
Results are not so good when it comes to economic recovery, the
establishment of a multiethnic society, and refugee returns. The
priorities for the near future are the reinforcement of the state
presidency, refugee returns to pre-war homes, eliminating the
influence of extremist political parties, and arresting war crimes
suspects, said Holbrooke.
He reminded that to date, the United Nations war crimes tribunal had
accused 94 persons, but that they were a lot more and all had to be
brought to justice.
Holbrooke in particular pointed to the danger posed by thieves,
racists, and separatists who continued to spread interethnic
hatred in Bosnia. He said he was primarily referring to the Serb
Democratic Party, but to some other parties as well, and called on
voters to eliminate from the political scene at next month's
elections such forces which distanced Bosnia from Europe.
Asked about a possible withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Balkans
after upcoming changes at the White House, Holbrooke was hopeful
everybody realised that the change in U.S. policy towards Bosnia in
the summer of 1995 had radically altered the situation in the entire
region, and that the future administration in Washington was able
to recognise the significance of those events.
(hina) ha jn