BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HOLDS TALKS WITH NATO CHIEF

( Editorial: --> 2405 ) SARAJEVO, Aug 7 (Hina) - The current political situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina ahead of next month's general elections was discussed on Friday during talks in Sarajevo between the Bosnian Presidency's Croat member Kresimir Zubak and NATO's European commander General Wesley Clark. Other topics discussed included implementation of the Dayton peace accords, the return of refugees and the organisation and functioning of police forces in the country, a statement from Zubak's office said. The lengthy talks considered the political situation and the possibilities for maintaining stability and securing conditions for fair and free elections, with special attention given to the activities of the media inside Bosnia and in neighbouring countries. There was also mention of crime in Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially in the Muslim-Croat Federation. It was assessed that the spread of crime was a barrier to the functioning of the democratic system, and at the same time implementation of the peace agreement. In relation to the disputed northern Bosnian town of Brcko, Zubak expressed hope that the problem would be resolved in a way satisfactory for both of Bosnia's entities. He suggested one of the compromises could be that Brcko be administered at the state or national level. (Hina) mbr 071813 MET aug 98