KOSOVO CRISIS DOES NOT DIMINISH U.S. INTEREST IN DAYTON

SARAJEVO, April 1 (Hina) - US Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Richard Kauzlarich, said on Thursday NATO air strikes against FR Yugoslavia also had great importance for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement as they show the determination of the international community in the implementation of assumed commitments. Kauzlarich told a news conference in Sarajevo the air strikes on targets in Yugoslavia were fully justified. He stressed the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina following the start of NATO strikes was significantly better than expected, only a handful of extremists among Bosnian Serbs were responsible for the incidents in Republika Srpska. Kauzlarich confirmed the American embassy staff would not return to Republika Srpska until all threats to their security are removed. Commenting on the situation in the Bosnian Federation after the assassination of Deputy Federal Interior Minister Jozo Leutar, Kauzlarich said he fully understood the emotions caused among Croats by the assassination. Positive were also "Non Paper" by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the strategy of the struggle for Croat interests as suggested by the New Croatian Initiative party, as these documents show that Croat political factors in Bosnia- Herzegovina were concerned with the future of the country. Asked about the course of the investigation into the assassination of Leutar, Kauzlarich said FBI experts had completed the biggest part of their job, and that remains of the explosive device found at the scene were being probed in a laboratory in Washington. (hina) lml jn