IZETBEGOVIC SEEKS WITHDRAWAL OF CROATIAN POLICE FROM MARTIN BROD

SARAJEVO, Dec 11 (Hina) - Bosniak member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic, requested an immediate withdrawal of Croatian police from the border line in Martin Brod (located between south Croatia and west Bosnia-Herzegovina). Izetbegovic set this as a condition for the continuation of negotiations on the final determination of the border line between the two countries. The Bosnia-Herzegovina Television on Thursday night relayed a statement from Izetbegovic's Office which said that he had "endorsed the request for the withdrawal of Croatian police which had been forwarded by International High Representative Carlos Westendorp and the UN Mission Chief in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elizabeth Rehn". "Instead of the undeferable withdrawal of the police of the Republic of Croatia, the area is being unfoundedly proclamimed a moot border issue which needs to be negotiated. We request of the Republic of Croatia to respect the integrity and territorial sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to immediately withdraw its police from the mentioned region. Until this is done, the inter-state commission for the identification and marking of the state border between the two countries will not continue its work," Izetbegovic's Office said. (hina) lml