ENVOY WARNS U.S. WILL OPPOSE ANY PLANS TO DIVIDE BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 1022 ) SARAJEVO, July 31 (Hina) - The United States special envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, has warned that Bosnia-Herzegovina was "approaching a critical moment for its future" with this September's general elections. Following talks with Bosnian officials in Sarajevo on Friday, Gelbard said enormous steps forward had been made in the country as a result of implementing the Dayton peace agreement. The elections in mid-September will be a determining factor for the future of this country and our government is working on offering great support to the election process. We hope that these will be the most free and fairest elections in the new history of this country, Gelbard told a press conference. He said that tragic terrorist attacks which had occurred in Bosnia during recent weeks were worrying for the US and the international community, and should be of concern to the people of BH. Several tragic and serious incidents have occurred, and these are efforts by various groups to cause fear among the population, Gelbard said, mentioning the latest of those incidents was the killing of a Croat policeman this morning in Travnik. It is another horrible terrorist attack whose perpetrators have to be brought to face justice. The perpetrators of this crime too are fighting against the tide of history, the American special envoy said. Speaking about the implementation of the Dayton agreement, Gelbard said the goal of the US in Bosnia remained the same, and this was a single state - Bosnia-Herzegovina composed of two multi-ethnic entities. Recently I heard some really funny stories which related to ideas on dividing this country, or perhaps revising the Dayton accord. We will oppose this in every possible way, and I can tell you we have many mechanisms at our disposal, Gelbard said. He accused the Bosnian Presidency's Serb member Momcilo Krajisnik and other Pale hardliners of being among those trying to spread stories the US supported partition but this was "a lie". Gelbard held talks with Presidency Chairman Alija Izetbegovic, Bosnian Council of Ministers Co-Chairman Haris Silajdzic and Bosnian Federation Defence Minister and Croatian Democratic Union of BH (HDZ BiH) president Ante Jelavic. When asked whether the US supported the New Croat Initiative party, recently established by the Bosnian Presidency's Croat member Kresimir Zubak, Gelbard said American support did not exist for just one candidate or party among the Bosnian Croats. I am interested in results, not promises, and when it comes to the HDZ BiH I would like to see more and better results in carrying out the Dayton agreement, the American special envoy said. Gelbard assessed his meeting with Jelavic as positive, saying there remained much to be done within the Federation of BH when it came to relations between Croats and Bosniaks (Muslims) and he informed the HDZ BiH president of this. We know President Kresimir Zubak very well, but the key point in this is that we believe in democratic pluralism and we will support and work with those who show us they are prepared to fully implement the Dayton agreement, Gelbard said. (Hina) mbr 311724 MET jul 98