PETRITSCH: DOUBLE THE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON ACCORD

SARAJEVO, Aug 18 (Hina) - Four years after the signing of the Dayton Agreement only half the results have bee implemented and the entire process needs to be sped up, the incoming High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Wolfgang Petritsch said on Wednesday. Petritsch took on his new position at the beginning of the week after Spanish diplomat Carlos Westerndorp who filled the position for the previous two years. "Westendorp compared the situation in B-H as a glass half-full. that means that we need to double our effort so that we can seriously do what is expected of us", Petritsch said at his first press conference in this capacity. He stressed that the recent signing of the Stability Pact offered new opportunities not only for B-H but also for the entire region. "B-H needs to make some serious efforts if it wishes to enjoy support from the international community" he said emphasising that Europe requires serious partners which truly wish to achieve the high standards of democracy, freedom and the government of the law. He added that he would not refrain from using his full authorities including replacing elected officials if need be. "I will not tolerate extremists and nationalists", the Austrian diplomat said. Commenting on the latest hot potato of corruption in B-H, Petritsch said that corruption of public funds was a reality in that country but that his office was determined in its struggle against this situation. "The problem of corruption is the issue that is distancing B-H from the European Union and the entire international community", he said adding that this was the main focus of his first meeting with Alija Izetbegovic. Responding to a question about the foundedness of a recent article in the New York Times about corruption in B-H, Petritsch said that the author of the article was a "good journalist however, he's muddled up some details". Petritsch denied any OHR secret documents on corruption however he did refer to the involvement of some political leaders in corruptive dealings. He added that he expected full cooperation from the government in Croatia. "We believe Croatia is an important signatory and guarantee for the Dayton Accord and we expect Croatia to relate to B-H as a sovereign country however, at the same time we are aware of the special ties which exist between Bosnian Croats and Zagreb", Petritsch said. (Hina) sp