REFORMED POLICE IN BH FEDERATION ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

SARAJEVO, Aug 8 (Hina) - Reformed police in the cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were being established according to plan, the Federation's Interior Minister, Mehmed Zilic, told reporters in Sarajevo on Friday, adding that after the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the Central Bosnia Canton, now was the turn of the Posavina Canton. Agreed deadlines were being somewhat slowed down by technical difficulties, by lack of equipment in particular, Zilic said. According to his deputy, Jozo Leutar, the establishment of joint police forces was stepped up after political difficulties had been eliminated. Overall security in the Federation would now also be higher, he added. The Deputy Interior Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Sefkija Dziho, said the first phase of the establishment of the new police in his Canton had been completed in 15 of 16 municipalities. Good results could already be seen, he concluded. (hina) ha 081844 MET aug 97