PEACE IMPLEMENTATION COUNCIL CONFERENCE ENDS

MADRID, December 16 (Hina) - Wednesday's adoption of a final declaration marked the end of the Peace Implementation Council for Bosnia-Herzegovina (PIC) conference held in Madrid. The Madrid declaration contains a message adopted unanimously: the international community would not be able to remain in Bosnia- Herzegovina and provide assistance permanently. The country must begin to resume responsibility and to prepare functioning independently. This will require economic, democratic and political changes. This conference will not resolve all the problems, but does represent the first step in the upcoming, crucial two-year time- frame, International high Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, told reporters. The time frame of two years has been established by the international community for Bosnia-Herzegovina to end the process of return of all refugees who wish to do so, to reorganise police and the judicial system, and to reinforce the functioning of joint institutions. This also includes the drafting of mechanisms for an efficient fight against corruption and crime, and an overall economic reconstruction of the country which should become market orientated and self-sustainable. (hina) lml