MILITARY STABILISATION PROGRAMME IN BOSNIA NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP

( Editorial: --> 0056 ) SARAJEVO, April 28 (Hina) - An international conference on the implementation of "Equip and Train" programme, intended for the training of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, started in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The conference is attended by representatives of 20 countries who already are or want to become donators to the programme. Croatia's delegation is headed by Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic. Croatia fully supports the implementation of the Dayton agreement and has adopted a set of decisions which support "Equip and Train" programme, Cosic said. Almost 90% of weapons from the programme arrived in the Federation via Croatia, Cosic said adding this was a concrete example of Croatia's contribution to the peace agreement. The United States, along with a group of Islamic countries, has so far been the most important donator to the programme. The company MPRI, which is run by retired US army officers, is implementing the operational part of the programme. US President Bill Clinton this morning sent a message to participants in the conference, saying that the US would continue implementing the programme of military stabilisation in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Clinton called on other countries to follow that example. So far, West European countries have ignored these invitations judging the programme contrary to the Dayton agreement. There were no representatives from West European countries at the conference, with the exception of Germany's military attache in Sarajevo, Wolf Reimer. Ante Jelavic, Federation Defence Minister, said that decisions of today's conference would determine whether the training of the Federation armed forces would be accelerated. The President of the Bosnian Presidency Alija Izetbegovic called on representatives of countries-participants in the Sarajevo conference to convey a request to their governments for continued financial support to the Federation. The Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency Kresimir Zubak said that the establishment of effective defence armed forces in the Croat- Muslim Federation had for its final aim the establishment of a permanent and stable peace after the withdrawal of international forces. The Croat side wishes the Federation Army to be established gradually and in a planned manner, and that both partners be treated equally, Zubak said. The Federation Army should be harmonised with the economic potential of the country, Zubak said adding this was one of the motives for a new analysis of the army's organisation. US diplomat James Pardew, who is representing the US government, reiterated his country's determination to continue the implementation of the programme "Equip and Train". He expressed hope that the Bosnian Serb authorities would accept this concept and earn the support of the international community. However, that has its price and the price is to accept Bosnia- Herzegovina as one state, to fully implement the Dayton agreement, to enable the return of all refugees and to send all war crimes suspects to The Hague, the US diplomat said. After introductory speeches, the conference continued behind closed doors. Results of the conference are to be released tomorrow upon its completion. (hina) rm 281252 MET apr 98