GELBARD ADDRESSES U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON BOSNIA PEACE PROCESS ( Editorial: --> 9478 )

( Editorial: --> 9478 ) ZAGREB/WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Hina) - US officials have begun consultations with allies on how to sustain the results so far achieved in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the expiry of the SFOR mandate in June next year, Robert Gelbard, US special envoy in charge of implementing the peace agreement, said at a session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week. We believe that, as a result of these consultations, there is a growing feeling that some form of international presence will be necessary even after June 1998, but so far no decision has been made on whether the United States should participate in a force that would succeed SFOR, Gelbard said. As the most important positive developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gelbard cited the destruction of about 5,000 artillery pieces, successful holding of municipal elections, progress in the creation of open and unbiassed media, restructuring of police forces in the Moslem-Croat Federation and the drastic reduction of influence wielded by Bosnian Serb hard-liners at Pale Speaking of the return of refugees and displaced persons, Gelbard said that about 350,000 people had returned to their homes since the signing of the Dayton peace agreement. For a large part thanks to our efforts, the government of Croatia has recently made basic steps forward in its policy to increase the cooperation in consolidating the regional peace, Gelbard said, noting that Serbia was less willing to cooperate. Gelbard stressed that the full implementation of the Dayton agreement was a long-term process and that several major tasks had to be done before the end of this year - ensure implementation of the results of municipal elections, conduct parliamentary elections in the Bosnian Serb Republic, complete the restructuring of police forces and focus on efforts to curb corruption, smuggling and organised crime. (hina) vm . 092022 MET nov 97