ZUBAK SAYS HIS VISIT TO U.S. IS SIGN OF U.S. SUPPORT TO PLURALISM IN BH

( Editorial: --> 9732 ) WASHINGTON, July 24 (Hina) - The invitation of the United States administration to visit Washington signifies the "support to political pluralisation and democratisation of relations in Bosnia", the Croat member in Bosnia's collective Presidency Kresimir Zubak said in Washington on Friday. Zubak recently established a new party, the New Croat Initiative. "In that, my political party has automatically been given support", Zubak told Hina, adding that nobody, neither in the U.S. administration nor in the international community, wishes to give public support to just one party. Zubak also announced the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) would finance the reconstruction and development in Central Bosnia. "The USAID envisaged US$32 million for the infrastructure, the reconstruction of houses and smaller economy units", said Zubak. Zubak's stay in Washington included talks with U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright, the U.S. President's advisor for national security Samuel Berger, USAID head Brian Atwood, and officials at the Finance Department. According to a statement from the State Department, Albright welcomed the constructive pro-Dayton platform of Zubak's party. During yesterday's talks, Zubak pointed out to the growing public support to the abandoning of former division policies, especially among Bosnian Croats. Albright reiterated the necessity for a prompt and complete implementation of the Dayton peace agreements throughout Bosnia. The U.S. is contrary to any efforts aimed at revising and altering the agreements, she emphasised. Albright also commended Zubak's leadership and incited him to strongly advocate a speedier implementation of peace, the return of displaced persons and reconciliation. Addressing a panel of the American Peace Institute on Friday, Zubak said the resolution to the return of displaced persons, one of the most difficult Dayton issues, would get additional stimulus when the constituent status of all three peoples in Bosnia on an entity level were given constitutional acknowledgement. "This issue is a test for the governing party", he said. Zubak assessed the implementation of the Dayton agreement was too slow. Progress would be achieved if the international high representative for Bosnia were more resolute in using his authority to remove officials obstructing the implementation, and if the international community had a clearer strategy and better coordination in implementing the return plan. Asked about the relations between Bosnian Croats and Zagreb, Zubak assessed that "with peace and the reconstruction of (Bosnia) all processes are slowly leading towards (Bosnia's) strengthening, and also (towards) our lesser dependence on (Croatia)." "The process will go towards (Bosnian Croats) leading a fully independent policy", he said. (hina) ha jn 242156 MET jul 98