CHIRAC ADVOCATES COMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON AGREEMENT

( Editorial: --> 5205 ) SARAJEVO, April 7 (Hina) - French President Jacques Chirac advocated full respect for the Dayton Agreement and its complete implementation, notwithstanding its shortcomings. Chirac arrived in Bosnia-Herzegovina for his first official visit to the country. He held talks with members of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency in Sarajevo. After the two-and-a-half-hour talks, Chirac told reporters that he had got the impression that the members of the Presidency wished that the current problems in Bosnia-Herzegovina could be solved, adding that this should not be doubted. "I came here as a friend to speak about dialogue, peace and the future," Chirac said. He stressed that the talks had especially focused on the issue of Bosnia-Herzegovina's approach towards European and international institutions, and on problems in the whole region. Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency (Moslem) Alija Izetbegovic, told reporters Tuesday that Chirac had been conveyed expectations of France's assistance to Bosnia-Herzegovina's accession into European integrations, primarily the Council of Europe. "We also expect the help of France aimed at establishing diplomatic relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and FR Yugoslavia unconditionally and as soon as possible," Izetbegovic said. He added that a more powerful appearance of French companies in Bosnia could be expected in the next period, which Chirac had pledged to personally endorse. Croat member of the Presidency, Kresimir Zubak, stressed that the French President had fully supported the consolidation of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Zubak described as encouraging Paris's readiness to help the integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina into European associations. "We have excellent political relations which need to be economically strengthened," Zubak said. He stressed that Chirac fully endorsed the idea of Bosnia- Herzegovina having an armed force consistent with its real needs, as well as its economic capabilities. Asked to comment on Croatian President Tudjman's idea about the demilitarisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chirac said all provisions of the Dayton Agreement had to be respected at the current moment, including the ones on arms restrictions, as imperfect as they may be. "The Dayton Agreement has set the upper limits for arms and they should be respected, after which gradual decrease can be achieved," Chirac said. He added that a gradual decrease in arms could be a good thing in the region and the world, but in this case, the process should begin with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Momcilo Krajisnik, said after talks with Chirac that he opposed any kind of revision of the Dayton Agreement and requested of Chirac to support "full equality of the two entities and three peoples". Krajisnik called on Chirac to mediate in reaching a solution to the Kosovo crisis in order for "peace to be maintained and dialogue started". "We deem Kosovo as Serbia's interior affairs issue, but on an emotional level, it is also an all-Serb issue," Krajisnik said. Commenting on Krajisnik's plight, Chirac said Paris held the Kosovo issue to be a "regional problem and efforts were being exerted within the Contact group to establish dialogue". "We want the result of it to be Kosovo's autonomy which would be realised inside Yugoslavia's borders," Chirac said. (hina) lm jn 071359 MET apr 98