MOSLEMS, CROATS AGREE ON ETHNIC RATIO IN FEDERAL ARMY COMPOSITION

SARAJEVO, June 13 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina's Moslem (Bosniak) and Croat officials, on Friday reached agreement on the ethnic composition of the Federal Army. The Federal Defence Minister, Ante Jelavic, said after the Sarajevo agreement that the ethnic ratio between Moslems and Croats in the Federal Army would be 2.5:1, and in the professional staff the ratio between Moslems and Croats would be 2.3:1. The peacetime composition of the Federal Army will deploy 45,000 persons including both conscripts and professional soldiers. According to Jelavic, Bosnian Croats will assume at least 31 percent of posts in the Defence Ministry. The agreement on this matter has been achieved by mediation of a U.S special envoy for military stability on the Balkans, James Pardew. Previous failures to solve the issue impeded the distribution of the shipped arms and military equipment. On Friday, Moslems and Croats also agreed on the distribution of the weaponry. Croats will get 92 tanks, 77 personnel armoured carriers and 326 cannons, whereas Moslems will get 181 tanks, 150 personnel armoured carriers and 674 cannons. The Bosnian Presidency's President, Alija Izetbegovic, and member, Kresimir Zubak, should formally confirm the treaty by signing it, and after that it becomes operational. (hina) jn mš 131721 MET jun 97