WESTENDORP'S OFFICE REJECTS SARAJEVO MEDIA REPORTS AS UNFOUNDED

( Editorial: --> 4151 ) SARAJEVO, Nov 27 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Thursday that Sarajevo media were unfoundedly criticising its activities by claiming that the High Representative himself was misinterpreting the peace agreement. Only one interpretation of the Dayton peace agreement is possible and that is the one made by High Representative Carlos Westendorp, spokesman for the office Duncan Bullivant told a news conference in Sarajevo. Bullivant said that all three parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina occasionally resorted to criticising the international community, usually when they themselves avoided implementing their commitments. Bullivant cited an example of critical media reports on a demand by Westendorp's office that housing and property laws be changed to allow the return of refugees. He mentioned state-run Bosnian television which broadcast a critical report on this issue in a prime-time news programme on Wednesday night. That was a cheap report which did not contain all available information. It misdirected viewers and was far from media standards valid in Europe, Bullivant said. He said this was just another example of how a large number of media in Bosnia-Herzegovina were far from being independent and that their primary task was to misinform citizens of that country. Bullivant went on to say that municipal authorities were responsible for providing accommodation to those required to move out of other people's apartments. Allegations that the Office of the High Representatives wants to throw someone out on the street represent a dangerous lie, he said. (hina) vm 271517 MET nov 97