OHR OPPOSES INITIATIVES TO AMMEND DAYTON AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, June 1 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina (OHR) is opposing recently frequent initiatives to change the Dayton Agreement, and is requesting all interested sides to fulfil assumed commitments, OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stiglmayer, said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Various political standpoints only last week launched four new proposals to change the Dayton Agreement. This appears to have become a trend, Stiglmayer told a news conference. She stressed the stance of the High Representative regarding the issue was very clear - Westendorp holds such suggestions as "destabilising", and did not help to solve problems in Bosnia- Herzegovina. The peace agreement should not be changed, it must be implemented, Stiglmayer said. She did not mention any of the suggestions to change the Dayton Agreement, but entered into polemics regarding an initiative launched by co-chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers, Haris Silajdzic, five days ago. Silajdzic told a news conference last week the Dayton Agreement in some segments presented restrictions for a successful integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and should be amended. Alija Izetbegovic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina carefully mentioned a possibility of opening up the Dayton package. On the occasion of a war crimes indictment being issued against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who is one of the signatories to the Dayton Agreement, Izetbegovic had said the opening of a discussion on the content of the peace agreement would be a good thing under the circumstances. However, he also assessed this idea was unrealistic. Stiglmayer said Tuesday an alternate agreement was not necessary just because an indictment has been issued against Milosevic. With his signature, he committed Yugoslavia to implement the Dayton Agreement and his signature cannot become invalid because of an indictment or subsequent verdict, she said. (hina) lml jn