CLINTON ASKS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORD

( Editorial: --> 0332 ) SARAJEVO, 22 Dec (Hina) - American soldiers will stay in Bosnia- Herzegovina and there will be no war - this is the basic message of a speech delivered by US President Bill Clinton in the National Theatre in Sarajevo Monday. However, a real and lasting peace would not be established unless Bosnian leaders seriously took the commitments they had accepted in Dayton, Clinton added. Clinton arrived in Sarajevo with generals Henry Shelton and Wesley Clark, commanders of the US and NATO forces in Europe, ten senators and congressmen, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Republican leader Robert Dole. Americans cared very much for Bosnia and its people, Clinton said. Nevertheless, he said, he was visiting Sarajevo because people in Bosnia-Herzegovina had decided to end the suffering and bloodshed and to reject a new war. In his speech Clinton warned the parties in Bosnia of their clear duties: division of authority within democratically established institutions, real support for the return of refugees especially when it comes to minority groups, the introduction of a law which would attract investments and eradicate corruption, the establishment of the full media freedom and of democratic police forces as well as the handing over of war crimes suspects. Progress that had been made in the past two years was obvious, he said, describing his impressions following a short walk through the streets of Sarajevo. Clinton said he had been asked to maintain peace by chance guests in a Sarajevo cafe. I asked them what was the most America could do for them. They answered - stay longer, Clinton said. Upon hearing this, all attending Clinton's speech in the National Theatre applauded strongly. Addressing representatives of both Bosnian entities, Clinton stressed their responsibility in making the Dayton accord a reality. All those who accept that responsibility will have full support from the United States and the international community, while those who dodge it will condemn themselves to isolation, the US president said. Clinton's message to the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina was to stop living in the past and build their future together. Real differences between people are not between people of different religion and ethnic background, but between those who have and those who have not accepted peace, he said. Attending Clinton's speech in the National Theatre building were the highest representatives of Bosnia's political life, except for the Serb member of the Bosnian Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik. Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic arrived in Sarajevo accompanied by special US representative Robert Gelbard. During the day, Clinton met Bosnian Presidency members Alija Izetbegovic, Kresimir Zubak and Momcilo Krajisnik. The US president arrived in Sarajevo with his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea. Clinton's motorcade was greeted by a large number of residents of Sarajevo who thus wanted to show their gratitude to the US president for his role in ending the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The US president and his entourage travelled from the airport into the city under tight security, with a large number of local police and an increased presence of NATO-led peacekeepers deployed in the city. (hina) mm rm 221721 MET dec 97