KLEIN PRESENTS NEW LICENCE PLATES FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

( Editorial: --> 8854 ) SARAJEVO, 2 Feb (Hina) - Jacques Klein, Deputy High Representative for implementation of the Dayton agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Monday presented new licence plates for Bosnia-Herzegovina. The introduction of new licence plates should considerably improve freedom of movement in the country. The introduction of uniform licence plates which will not identify vehicles by entity or any other type of affiliation is a big step forward, said Klein at a ceremony held in front of the Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry building. Present at the ceremony were also the head of the U.N. Mission in Bosnia, Elizabeth Rehn, Stabilisation Force deputy commander Gen. Phillip Mansy and the Federation Interior Minister Mehmed Zilic. With the new licence plates, drivers in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be able to travel without fear through the whole country, Klein said, adding the introduction of new licence plates was one of the ways Bosnia was getting closer to other European countries. Until recently, there were at least five different types of licence plates in Bosnia, mainly with national symbols. The new licence plates will have standard dimensions and a white background. They will have combinations of six numbers and one letter, shared by both the Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Combinations will be determined by the method of random choice by computer systems in canton interior ministries. The international community has secured DM 30,000 for each entity to make licence plates. The process of exchanging licence plates will have to be completed by 31 July. In the next several days Bosnia-Herzegovina will have a new flag as well, Klein said, announcing that convertible marks would be put into circulation as well as joint passports for the whole country. (hina) mm rm 021506 MET feb 98