HIGH REPRESENTATIVE ADOPTS LAW ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS

( Editorial: --> 1143 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 17 (Hina) - The law on telecommunications in Bosnia- Herzegovina has gone into force on September 11, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Sarajevo said on Thursday. High Representative Carlos Westendorp decided to recognise the existence of three post and telecommunication operators in Bosnia- Herzegovina until the state parliament reaches agreement on some other solution. The post and telecommunication operators in question are in the Bosnian Serb entity, in the majority Muslim areas and in the former Croat community of Herzeg-Bosnia. They provide services through a public telecommunications network. According to Westendorp's decision, they will have to strictly use the international access code for Bosnia-Herzegovina (387) in all international operations. The existing operators will also have to cooperate with the OHR, the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and the Commission for Public Corporations, so that the reorganisation of the telecommunications sector in the country could be carried out. The OHR will monitor the situation in the area of telecommunications and take all necessary steps to secure full cooperation from the three operators and their respect for legal norms. (hina) rml 171753 MET sep 98