ORH REFUTES CLAIMS THAT BOSNIA'S BORDERS SHOULD BE MINED

( Editorial: --> 7876 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 3 (Hina) - The Office of the High representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina (ORH) on Thursday refuted reporters in some newspapers that the High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, requested drastic measures of controlling the border between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This includes the laying of mines at illegal border crossings used for the smuggling of merchandise. Reports that anybody would ask for the mining of the border is complete nonsense. There are enough mines in this country as it is, the Office's spokesman, Rida Attarashany, told Hina on Thursday. We are concerned, however, when it comes to 'cracks' on borders, and the ORH is exerting efforts to solve the problems regarding the issue, he added. This is primarily the task of the Customs and Fiscal Assistance Office (CAFAO), which has been tackling the issue for some time Attarashany said. He recalled that the issue of defining and protecting the border of Bosnia-Herzegovina had been initiated during talks with local authorities, but in the context of other issues, primarily on tax and customs. There were discussions, of course, on how to protect the border, but a formal plan regarding the issue, as far as I know, is non-existent at the moment, Attarashany said. (hina) lml 031904 MET sep 98