GELBARD: OPPONENTS OF DAYTON AGREEMENT WILL FACE SANCTIONS

( Editorial: --> 1645 ) MOSTAR, Sept 19 (Hina) - The United States will not give up until it reaches its goal - a prosperous and democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina with two multi-ethnic entities, special US envoy for the Balkans Robert Gelbard told reporters in Mostar on Saturday. The US envoy, who arrived in Mostar late this afternoon, met with Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Prefect Zeljko Obradovic, his deputy Fatima Leho and Mayor Safet Orucevic. Recalling that this is his 28th visit to Bosnia, Gelbard said he would not stop visiting the country until the United States realised its goal. The US government wants to see a united Mostar and a united Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, which requires economic development and refugee return, Gelbard said. He said he expected the use of Ploce port to contribute to the economic revival of Bosnia's southern areas. Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Bosnia's southern parts are of special importance for the country's future, the US official said adding he had accepted the invitation of the Bosnian Croat and Muslim leaders to personally help in the process of reconciliation and solution of problems which exist in the Mostar area. The United States is willing to secure serious assistance to all those who are ready to implement the Dayton agreement and those who fail to do so will face sanctions. Gelbard expressed hope that in the post-election period, once the elections are successfully completed, he would manage to solve all problems in Mostar together with Ante Jelavic as a new leader and with Muslim leaders. The US envoy said he did not meet today with deputy mayor Ivan Prskalo because of Prskalo's failure to respect democratic traditions and law. Prskalo threatened to some international representatives who are here to help, Gelbard said alluding to a letter Prskalo wrote two months ago calling Martin Garrod, head of the regional Office of the High Representative, a persona non grata, and asking him to leave Mostar. Gelbard also sharply criticised a recent statement by Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) vice president Mijo Brajkovic who said that there would be a war again in Bosnia. The statement was published by the Sarajevo media. The US envoy said he was shocked at such a statement and did not even believe in Brajkovic's corrections of it. (hina) rml 192149 MET sep 98