OSCE SUPPORTS 'BUSOVACA - OPEN TOWN' PROJECT

BUSOVACA, July 31 (Hina) - Edward Joseph, the head of the Mostar-based OSCE regional office, toured the central Bosnian town of Busovaca on Thursday. The reason for Joseph's visit is the intention of the municipal Croat and Moslem parties to proclaim Busovaca an "open town". The OSCE fully supported the "Busovaca - Open Town" project and this would set a good example for entire Central Bosnian Canton as well as for other parts of the (Croat-Moslem) Federation, the OSCE official said after talks with local Moslem and Croat representatives. More than 200 Moslem have returned to their homes in Busovaca this year, and a number of Croat-owned houses in the Moslem-controlled areas of Busovaca are being renovated. Establishment of a joint savings and loan cooperative is part of realisation of the project, and the international community will invest some money in it. All participants in Thursday's talks agreed that set-up of canton police would be very important to the success of the "Busovaca - open town" project. (hina) mš 311717 MET jul 97