CHIRAC TO VISIT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN APRIL

( Editorial: --> 0240 ) SARAJEVO, March 17 (Hina) - The French President Jacques Chirac will visit Bosnia-Herzegovina at the beginning of April, the Bosnian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Chirac's visit is scheduled for April 6 and 7. Chirac is the only president of a western European Contact Group member-country who has not been to Sarajevo, although French soldiers make up a considerable section of NATO peace forces in Bosnia. Former French President Francois Miterrand visited Sarajevo at the beginning of the war, in June 1992. His sudden visit led to the opening of Sarajevo airport for humanitarian flights. Official circles in Sarajevo later interpreted Miterrand's visit in an extremely negative context as it was believed that the visit prevented a possible military intervention by the West against the Bosnian Serbs. (hina) mm rm/mrb 171337 MET mar 98