JOHN SHATTUCK VISITS MOSTAR

MOSTAR, July 27 (Hina) US Secretary for Democratisation and Human Rights, John Shattuck, on Sunday visited Mostar where he held talks with Bosniac officials + of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Canton Prefect Fatima Leho, Minister for the Return+ of Refugees, Omer Hujdur, and Mostar Deputy Mayor Safet Orucevic. Present at the meeting were the deputy head of Westendorph's regional office, Dieter Schelschmidt, and a human rights official at the Mostar-based office of + the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Peter Bach. Shattuck said his visit came at a crucial time for the establishment of peace + and democracy, especially in the direction of the re-establishment of a + multi-cultural society. Shattuck said that the international community had on the donors' conference + in Brussels forwarded a clear message that the authorities co-operating in the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, pertaining to the freedom of movement and the return of displaced persons and refugees would + receive significant financial support. International donors and the United States would not provide financial support to authorities which systematically obstruct the right of the people to + return to their homes, as well as those protecting was crimes suspects, Shattuck said, adding + that the reason he came to Mostar was to convey this message. He expressed regret that Croat officials did not attend the meeting. Shattuck expressed satisfaction about the establishment of the joint police in Mostar. He condemned the recent assaults on representatives of international organisations in Republika Srpska. These were acts of terrorism and they had to be stopped. We will not allow + this to continue, Shattuck stressed. He described as good last week's meeting between Croatia President Franjo Tudjman and special US envoy, Bill Richardson. At earlier meetings, Tudjman and the Croatian government had expressed commitment to work on strengthening the Bosnian Federation and to use their influence to the end of apprehension of war crimes suspects and the return of displaced persons, Shattuck said, adding that because of previous obstructions,+ the World Bank had refused a $ 40 million loan to Croatia. I hail the commitment of the Croatian government and President Tudjman to implement everything signed, Shattuck stressed. (hina) lm 271727 MET jul 97