HIGH REPRESENTATIVE WARNS KOSOVO COULD TURN INTO ANOTHER BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 0059 ) LUXEMBOURG, June 9 (Hina) - Unless the international community takes energetic steps Kosovo could turn into another Bosnia- Herzegovina, the international High Representative for implementation of the Dayton Accords, Carlos Westendorp, said in Luxembourg on Tuesday. Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the Peace Implementation Council's (PIC) Steering Board, Westendorp said the situation in the southern Yugoslav province was difficult and that the Serbian military and police were carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Albanian population there. "Kosovo is in grave danger of becoming another Bosnia," Westendorp said. He added that the Kosovo crisis affected the situation in BH and jeopardised the implementation of the Dayton Accords. "I say with particular feeling that we have a duty to learn the lessons of recent history, and to take firm action as an international community before it is too late," Westendorp said. "Otherwise we threaten our achievements - and may prolong our mission in Bosnia." When asked later at a press briefing about what kind of action he referred to, Westendorp said that it was up to the international community to decide. "No option should be ruled out," he said. In a comment on frequent claims by the Serbian authorities that the problem of Kosovo should be left for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to deal with, Westendorp said that Kosovo was not just the FRY's business but a matter pertinent to the entire international community. In the final draft of its declaration, the PIC Steering Board focused solely on BH and consequently did not include any statements or recommendations regarding Kosovo. The Steering Board decided not to issue a separate statement on Kosovo because it would be imminently dealt with by the Contact Group, Westendorp told the press. A FRY delegation disagreed with the sharp criticisms of the situation in Kosovo that were voiced at the Steering Board session. (Hina) lml mro /mbr 092156 MET jun 98