U.S. ENVOY CALLS ON URGENT ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT MOSTAR POLICE

SARAJEVO, July 1 (Hina) - Special US envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Gelbard, said on Tuesday that Washington called for an urgent implementation of the agreement on the establishment of a unified police force in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, accusing at the same time the Bosnian Croat side for violating the agreement. #L# Croat authorities had refused to implement the signed agreements. The United States resolutely rejected all statements regarding the failure to implement the agreement, and asked that the agreed be realised as soon as today, Gelbard told reporters in Sarajevo after a meeting with members of the Bosnian Presidency. He warned the US would deny any financial assistance to the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton if the joint police was not established urgently, adding that such sanctions would be applied as punishment for any side which refused to implement the agreement. Gelbard said he had relayed the message to the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kresimir Zubak, as well as to the president of the Bosnian Croatian Democratic Union, Bozo Rajic, who had pledged to do everything in their power to have the agreement implemented. Gelbard dismissed any possibility of new negotiations on the issue. (hina) lm mm 011803 MET jul 97