WESTENDORP'S OFFICE SURPRISED AT APPOINTMENT OF NEW MINISTER ( Editorial: --> 2359 )

( Editorial: --> 2359 ) SARAJEVO, Nov 20 (Hina) - The office of the international high representative for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement is surprised at the appointment of Bosnia's new minister for foreign trade and economic relations, office spokesman Simon Haselock told reporters in Sarajevo Thursday. Commenting on the fact that both houses of the Bosnian parliament adopted a proposal to appoint Mirsad Kurtovic as minister - a person whose name had been clearly mentioned in a report by an investigator of the European commission for public revenue misuse - Haselock said the office of the high representative was currently considering what could be done. The office did not believe Kurtovic was guilty until proved otherwise, Haselock said, but voiced concern in relation to his appointment. Before being appointed to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Kurtovic headed the State Commodity Reserves Administration, which was an institution of the defunct Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The CAFAO report showed that the Administration used funds earned through the sale of various commodities, imported without customs fee or tax, for the financing of illegal republic institutions. In his public address, Kurtovic strongly denied the CAFAO findings, claiming no illegal activities had taken place and this could be proved through appropriate documents. (hina) ha jn 201521 MET nov 97