ESTABLISHMENT OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC IN BOSNIA BY END OF MARCH?

( Editorial: --> 0176 ) SARAJEVO, Feb 7 (Hina) - Bosnian Federation Transport and Communications Minister Rasim Gacanovic and his counterpart from Republika Srpska, Marko Pavic, on Saturday signed a memorandum on understanding based on which railway traffic should be established in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Present at the signing ceremony was also the deputy to the International High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Jacques Klein. He recalled that the railway system in Bosnia-Herzegovina had suffered the most war damage, and because of the lack of political will, it had not been reconstructed to date. Political obstructions hindered progress, but during the past several months new winds had been blowing and things were beginning to move forward, Klein said. He stressed that representatives of governments and railway companies of the two entities had the obligation to reach an agreement by the end of March on all issues for putting in motion the railway traffic. Klein expressed hope that the first train from Sarajevo towards Vinkovci would begin to run in two weeks. Pavic said that his signature meant a concrete confirmation of the new government in Banja Luka for the full implementation of the Dayton Agreement and the opening towards the Bosnian Federation and neighbouring countries. The signed memorandum envisages that the general management of the railways should remain in the authority of the entities, and traffic between the entities is to be regulated by a regulation which would be effective throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) lm 071618 MET feb 98