GARROD RESIGNS AS MOSTAR HIGH REP OFFICE HEAD

( Editorial: --> 7798 ) MOSTAR, July 15 (Hina) - Sir Martin Garrod on Wednesday confirmed he had submitted his resignation as head of the international High Representative's regional office in Mostar. Garrod told reporters his replacement would be Richard Ellerkman, deputy to the former head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Frowick. He said Ellerkman would take over his duties on October 1. Garrod explained that on May 1 he had sent a letter to High Representative Carlos Westendorp asking that he be replaced after this September's general elections in Bosnia. He said he had no deep reasons for his resignation, adding that no one could remain in Mostar forever. After his departure from Mostar, Garrod said he would not take up new duties in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The British diplomat emphasised that his main aim during the next three months of his office was to see the return of 1,000 Croats to about 300 homes in Muslim-controlled east Mostar. He added that today he had received news from the German organisation THV saying it would assist in the reconstruction of 47 homes in east Mostar for the return of Croats. Garrod recalled that the Dutch government would soon begin reconstructing 50 Croat homes in east Mostar. He rejected a proposal by Croatian Democratic Union of BH (HDZ BiH) leaders that a state plan for refugee return be made. Garrod said there already existed a return plan, in Annex VII of the Dayton agreement, which was supplemented by return plans for the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Mostar. (Hina) mbr jn /rml 151537 MET jul 98