OSCE MISSION HEAD IN BOSNIA COMMENTS ON STABILITY PACT

MOSTAR, July 14 (Hina) - The head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Barry, on Wednesday held talks with officials from Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the town of Mostar on the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. Speaking at a news conference in Mostar, Barry said two simultaneous processes were needed: the integration of Bosnia- Herzegovina and other countries in the region into Euro-Atlantic associations and the regional integration of south-east European states. Confirming that his mandate has been expanded, Barry said his task was to coordinate joint activities of OSCE missions in south-east Europe, adding he would work toward the reduction of military expenses and forces in the region, the removal of obstacles to trade between the countries in the region, the establishment of a customs union and the prevention of organised crime. He believed these measures would help the integration of the country's two entities and its constituent peoples. The head of the OSCE Mission also said one of his duties was to assist the Stability Pact coordinator, German diplomat Bodo Hombach. He announced that the problem of crime prevention would be discussed at a special Stability Pact meeting to tackle security issues. Countries which have problems with organised crime do not stand a chance of accessing the European Union until they have resolved those problems, he said. Commenting on a statement by the head of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government, Frano Ljubic, who said he would resign because of the decision of High Representative Carlos Westendorp to allow the use of bilingual seals in the canton, Barry said bilingual seals were common in multi-national countries throughout the world. He added that Ljubic need not hope that the High Representative would change his decision. (hina) rml