OHR SPOKESMAN COMMENTS ON ELECTION OF B-H PRESIDENCY MEMBERS

( Editorial: --> 8962 ) SARAJEVO, Oct 16 (Hina) - The High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton Accord, Carlos Westendorp, on Friday asked the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina to give their opinion regarding the method of electing and replacing members in the B-H Presidency. Currently there is no law regulating this matter. A spokesperson of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), Rida Attarashany, confirmed that Westendorp and the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Bosnia, Robert Barry, had discussed the matter on Thursday with members of the state presidency. The Sarajevo press recently claimed that Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic had initiated the question of regulating possible changes in the B-H Presidency. The press believe that Izetbegovic is in fact preparing to withdraw from the state presidency and wants to prepare the way for Haris Silajdzic to replace him. Attarashany did not define however, whether the OHR would support the option of conducting new elections or accept the Bosnian Muslim suggestion for Presidency members to be replaced by parliamentary decision. (Hina) sp /rml 161700 MET oct 98