USA WILL REMAIN ACTIVE IN THE REGION -- HOLBROOKE

DAYTON, Nov 17 (Hina) - There is no doubt the American leadership will, with good cooperation between the new president and Congress, in the future significantly contribute to the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as to the stability of the entire region, US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke told a news conference in Dayton Friday. Holbrooke refused to comment on possible amendments to the Dayton Agreement, but stressed that after all three signatories to the agreement are gone from the political scene for one reason or another, the realisation of the true goals of the peace accords is becoming more realistic -- a stable and prosperous region in cooperation of multi-national communities. He expressed opposition to those advocating the setting of deadlines for the end of the international community's presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The setting of deadlines is not an exit strategy because the course of the mission is what dictates the development, he said. Holbrooke expressed dissatisfaction with the recent elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He recalled he had earlier asked of the High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch, to put a stop to the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and give a resolute response to the leaders of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The SDS leaders are corrupted criminals because of whom Bosnian Serb are suffering the most, Holbrooke said, adding Petritsch had, unfortunately, not taken his advice. (hina) lml