US ENVOY COMMENTS ON ARMY FINANCING, DEFENCE RELATIONS

SARAJEVO, Jan 13 (Hina) - Special US envoy for military stabilisation James Pardew on Wednesday held a press conference in Sarajevo on the "Equip and Train" programme and financing of the Croat-Muslim army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pardew also commented on relations between Croatia, Yugoslavia and Bosnia as regards defence issues and on the latest problem between the Stabilisation Force and the Federation Defence Ministry. The problem of appointment and promotion of several Croatian Defence Council (HVO) officers has to be resolved between SFOR and the Federation Defence Ministry, Pardew said. The United States is not involved in that issue nor was it consulted on SFOR's actions in Bosnia, Pardew said adding though his government supported the aim SFOR was trying to achieve - professionalisation of the Federation Army. Rules of military professionalisation do not apply only to Croats but also to Bosniaks and Serbs, Pardew said adding he fully supported the decision made by SFOR chief commander, General Meigs. Commenting on the destruction of Bosnian Croat weapons, Pardew said SFOR had done what it believed was best at that moment. Speaking about the financing of one component of the Federation Army by Croatia, the US envoy stressed it was positive that Croatia recognised its share of commitment. The time has come for funds for the financing of the army to be transferred to the Federation Defence Ministry budget, Pardew said stressing the need for transparency in the financing of the military. Commenting on the transfer of army officers from BH to the armies of the neighbouring countries, the US official said he personally did not support it. Relations between Croatia and Bosnia, and Serbia and Republika Srpska are too close and transfers of officers from one country to another have to stop, Pardew said adding that transfers of general officers from BH to Croatia were one-way transfers. At the moment, the United States would not support the return of those generals to BH nor would it support the arrival of Croatian Army generals to the Federation Army, he added. Speaking about the possible reduction of army forces and ideas on demilitarisation of BH, the US envoy said that peoples in BH had the right to self-defence and that the past war was too brutal because there was no military balance in the country. Military balance has to exist in the whole region and when the authorities in Belgrade and Zagreb talk about weapons reduction in Sarajevo, they have to be ready to reduce their own arsenals as well, he said. (hina) rml