SPANISH KING VISITS SFOR'S SPANISH SOLDIERS

( Editorial: --> 2463 ) MOSTAR, Jan 5 (Hina) - Spanish King Juan Carlos on Monday visited Spanish soldiers of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Upon arriving in Mostar, King Juan Carlos laid a wreath in the city's central Spanish Square in honour of 18 Spanish soldiers who had died on the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Present at the wreath-laying were also NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and international High Representative Carlos Westendorp. After the wreath-laying ceremony, the guests left for Muslim-held east Mostar. In the afternoon, joined by Spanish Defence Minister Eduardo Sierra, King Juan Carlos visited the command of the SFOR's Spanish brigade in Medjugorje, where he celebrated his 60th birthday. Talking to reporters, a public relations official of the Spanish Ministry of Defence, Lt. Col. Castro, denied claims that Spanish soldiers in the Mostar area could soon be replaced by soldiers from the U.S. "This replacement is not envisaged", said Castro. King Juan Carlos left Mostar's airport Ortijes in the afternoon. (hina) ha jn 051916 MET jan 98