SFOR PREVENTS CRO GOVT DELEGATION FROM VISITING CENTRAL BH

ZAGREB, Sept 9 (Hina) - Members of the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday denied permission to a delegation of the Croatian government, headed by Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic, to visit areas in BH in which Croatia is assisting in the reconstruction of family houses. Croatia was reconstructing houses in BH via its Reconstruction and Development Ministry to aid the return of Croats, Minister Radic told Croatian Radio on Tuesday. "We have in this way already reconstructed (houses) in the Kupres area, and in the Posavina area we have reconstructed part of our returnees' flats", Radic said. "This year, we intend to assist in the reconstruction of 1,000 homes in BH", he added. Today, the Croatian delegation was to visit central Bosnia (Jajce, Bugojno, Guca Gora, Vitez), where most of this year's reconstruction is to take place, at the invitation of Bosnian Federation President Vladimir Soljic. "Even though the Federation requested this visit a few days ago, SFOR did not allow a Croatian helicopter to fly to that area", Radic said. "I believe this is not a good sign on the part of the international community, since this was a perfectly logical visit, intended to assist BH", he concluded. (hina) ha 092114 MET sep 97