ICTY REPS DISCUSS ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION FOR TRUTH ABOUT WAR IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Nov 10 (Hina) - International representatives in Bosnia- Herzegovina and representatives of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Tuesday met with state officials in Sarajevo to discuss the establishment of a commission for truth about the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. ICTY President Gabrielle Kirk McDonald and Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour arrived without prior announcement in Sarajevo on Monday night. Immediately upon arrival, they met members of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which is in charge of the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. Judge McDonald met Bosnian-Muslim member of the BH Presidency Alija Izetbegovic on Tuesday morning. The two officials discussed the establishment of the truth commission and the rule of law as well as the importance of apprehending all war crimes suspects, UN spokeswoman Kelly Moore said today. Monday's talks were also attended by representatives from the US Institute for Peace. The ICTY supports all initiatives aimed at the reconciliation between the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moore added. The Institute for Peace, which initiated the establishment of the truth commission in BH, has already been involved in a similar project in South Africa. A special body called the commission for truth and reconciliation, headed by Bishop Desmond Tutu, investigated crimes committed in South Africa during the rule of apartheid. The commission's findings confirmed that the minority white regime was responsible for a large number of crimes and cases of human rights violation, but that such cases had also been reported on the side of the now ruling African National Congress (ANC). The South African President Nelson Mandela personally supported the publishing of a report with these findings although it contains disturbing accusations of the ANC, whose leader until recently, was Mandela himself. (Hina) jn rml/sp