WESTENDORP RELIEVES POPLASEN OF HIS DUTY

SARAJEVO, March 5 (Hina) - High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, on Friday relieved President of the Bosnian Serb entity Nikola Poplasen of his duty. The decision was reached after Poplasen refused to abandon his initiative to replace Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, the Office of the High Representative said in a statement. Westendorp on Friday morning received a letter from Poplasen informing him about a demand, forwarded to Banja Luka on Thursday, that the initiative for Dodik's replacement be revoked. Westendorp said in the statement Poplasen had abused the authorities he enjoyed as the President of the Bosnian Serb entity, ignored the will the entity's citizens expressed at the elections for the People's Assembly, prevented the full implementation of electoral results, and constantly provoked instability in the Bosnian Serb entity. Through those actions, Poplasen directly obstructed the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, Westendorp said in the statement. The High Representative's decision on Poplasen's replacement was based on regulations from the peace agreement's Annexe 10 and Peace Implementation Council conclusions from 1997 and 1998. (hina) it ha