GENERAL SHELTON MEETS U.S. OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 6383 ) SARAJEVO, Dec 6 (Hina) - Henry Shelton, commander of the U.S. army's joint headquarters, on Saturday visited Sarajevo. He held a meeting with the chief commander of the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eric Shinseki, the deputy international High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, Jacques Klein, and U.S. Ambassador to BH Richard Kauzlarich. Shelton is visiting Bosnia for the first time since he replaced the recently retired General John Shalikashvili. His visit comes in the wake of a Brussels meeting of defense ministers and military commanders of NATO member-countries which also discussed the extension of the international armed forces' mandate in Bosnia. Shelton told reporters he was proud of the role NATO members played in Bosnia over the past two years. Nobody questioned the fact that some form of international military presence would be needed in Bosnia after June 1998, the general said. A decision on the number, composition and competence of the force that would come after the SFOR was yet to be reached by NATO member-countries, he said. General Shelton recalled that Washington had not issued a statement on the matter yet. The Congress expected European allies to participate more actively in the keeping of peace in Bosnia, especially in the training of an efficient civil police, he said. The establishment of a professional and efficient police was crucial to lasting peace, Shelton pointed out. (hina) ha 061557 MET dec 97