AMERICAN ENVOY BEGINS TALKS WITH BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA OFFICIALS

( Editorial: --> 2976 ) SARAJEVO, March 28 (Hina) - US President Bill Clinton's special envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, on Saturday morning began a series of separate talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina's highest ranking officials. Gelbard, who arrived in Sarajevo on Friday night, first met behind closed doors with the Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency, Kresimir Zubak, and then with Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic, a Bosniak (Muslim). During the day the American diplomat will hold joint talks with heads of the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH and then in the afternoon travel to Banja Luka to meet Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic and Premier Milorad Dodik. Unlike Gelbard's previous visits to Bosnia-Herzegovina, this time a public statement is not expected. (Hina) jn mb 281152 MET mar 98