EU TO SEND FINANCIAL AID TO BOSNIAN SERBS

( Editorial: --> 1468 ) SARAJEVO, Feb 12 (Hina) - The European Union's financial assistance to the Bosnian Serb entity will continue with the planned intensity regardless of whether the Republika Srpska government will soon start fulfilling its obligation to cooperate in bringing war crimes suspects before The Hague tribunal. For the time being, the international community is satisfied with the readiness of the Serb side to cooperate as expressed by Republika Srpska Premier Milorad Dodik, Office of the High Representative spokeswoman Aisling Burne said in Sarajevo Thursday. Dodik has made it clear that he and his government will cooperate with the international community on the basis of the Dayton agreement and it remains to be seen what will be done, said Burne. The international community has changed its stand concerning the allocation of aid to Bosnian Serbs after Dodik's election as new premier, she stressed. We expect that the first part of promised financial aid will be forwarded to the financial institutions of Republika Srpska next week, Burne said. The European Union has decided itself to make its earlier requests less strict and ceased making its assistance conditional on cooperation in handing over war criminals. The UN's Sarajevo spokesman Alexander Ivanko said the international community abided by the view that it would be best if war crimes suspects surrendered voluntarily. Premier Dodik said at a conference in Vienna on Monday that he would do all in his power so that suspects surrender voluntarily. (hina) mm rm 121755 MET feb 98