US ENVOY MEETS BH PRESIDENCY MEMBERS AHEAD OF MADRID CONFERENCE

SARAJEVO, Dec 8 (Hina) - Special US envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, on Tuesday started a series of talks with the highest- ranking Bosnian officials, with the aim of determining the basic problems to be discussed at the forthcoming Madrid conference on the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. This morning the US envoy held separate talks with the Bosnia- Herzegovina Presidency members. He first met with the Presidency chairman Zivko Radisic, and then with the other two members, Alija Izetbegovic and Ante Jelavic. Following his talks with Radisic, Gelbard said the country would have to show more progress in the process of privatisation and reform of its payment system. There will be no investments or the establishment of a modern economic system without progress, Gelbard said highlighting the economic aspect of the Madrid conference. The US envoy called on all sides to cooperate in economic projects and improve inter-entity trade. He criticised the Republika Srpska for allowing Serbia to exploit its economic potential on the basis of the unrealistic exchange rate of Bosnia's currency - convertible mark - and the Yugoslav dinar. He positively assessed Radisic's role in the establishment of joint bodies of authority in Bosnia- Herzegovina. The BH Presidency chairman expressed hope that the Madrid conference would provide support for economic reforms in Bosnia and speed up the influx of foreign capital. (hina) rml .