KOSOVO CRISIS PUTS PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN BOSNIA IN JEOPARDY - COHEN

( Editorial: --> 3525 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 27 (Hina) - The United States will cooperate with all political leaders who have received the people's vote of confidence at the recent general elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but only under the condition that they support the Dayton Agreement, not by words, but with deeds, US Defence Secretary William Cohen said in Sarajevo on Sunday. Cohen travelled to Bosnia-Herzegovina from Macedonia. He did not hold talks with any of the Bosnian officials, but has met the International High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, and chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Barry. Cohen told reporters that Washington held that the elections in the country had been free and fair, and give a reason for optimism. Some of the moderate politicians won in the elections, and even those who opposed Biljana Plavsic's policy said they would support the Dayton Agreement, Cohen said. He warned, however, that the progress achieved in stabilising the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina could be jeopardised if the current situation in Kosovo continued. If NATO does not undertake action to stop Milosevic in what he is doing in Kosovo, it could have negative influence on efforts that are being undertaken to ensure a democratic development of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Cohen said. He stressed that the Yugoslav President should take the warning forwarded by a UN Security Council resolution seriously, and if he does not, NATO will be forced to take action. NATO is currently drawing up plans for actions by air, and it is still too soon to speak of any ground operations. According to Cohen, the international community wishes to ensure that the conflicts in Kosovo cease, and thus enable the return of a large number of refugees to their homes. The international community also requests the beginning of negotiations between Yugoslav authorities and the Kosovo Liberation Army which would lead to a final solution to the crisis. (hina) lml 271853 MET sep 98