FRANCE TO BACK RECONSTRUCTION OF MOSTAR BRIDGE: CHIRAC

( Editorial: --> 5354 ) MOSTAR, April 7 (Hina) - After speaking with local Croat and Bosniak (Muslim) officials in Mostar, French President Jacques Chirac said France wanted to directly back repair and construction of the Old Bridge in the city, Mostar Mayor Safet Orucevic said on Tuesday night. According to Orucevic, Chirac asked that the UNESCO sponsored project for reconstruction of the Old Bridge be presented to the public in Paris. Following the talks Chirac headed for the SFOR base in Mostar's Ortijes airport and left for Paris, thereby ending his two-day visit. The French President was farewelled by Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic, his deputy Husein Zivalj and Bosnian Foreign Ministry chief secretary Suad Safet as well as local Croat and Bosniak officials from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the city of Mostar. (Hina) mm mr /mb 072209 MET apr 98