BELGRADE, Feb 4 (Hina) - U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said Sunday the implementation of the Bosnian peace agreement was going well and that a lasting peace was to be achieved. On his Sunday tour to Zagreb, Sarajevo and
Belgrade Christopher reminded presidents Tudjman, Izetbegovic and Milosevic of their responsibility for the implementation of the Dayton accords, he told a news conference at the Belgrade Intercontinental hotel after meeting Milosevic.
BELGRADE, Feb 4 (Hina) - U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher
said Sunday the implementation of the Bosnian peace agreement was
going well and that a lasting peace was to be achieved.
On his Sunday tour to Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade
Christopher reminded presidents Tudjman, Izetbegovic and Milosevic
of their responsibility for the implementation of the Dayton
accords, he told a news conference at the Belgrade Intercontinental
hotel after meeting Milosevic. #L#
He said Milosevic agreed to allow the United States to open an
information office in the tense province of Kosovo where the
majority of the population is ethnic Albanian. Milosevic also
agreed to allow opening of International war crimes tribunal in The
Hague (ICTY) office in Belgrade.
Kosovo should have such a status which should guarantee human
and political rights to Albanians, Christopher said, stressing that
the U.S. was "deeply interested" to see the Kosovo problem settled.
The bilateral ties between the U.S. and the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) would depend on
implementation of the peace agreement, he added.
Commenting on his talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman
Christopher said he had supported the peaceful reintegration of the
eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Syrmium area, functioning of
the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and stressed a vital
importance the return of the refugees, respect for the human rights
and cooperation with the ICTY had for Croatia.
Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic was told that Bosnia-
Herzegovina should preserve its significance of an open society,
persist in implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement,
strengthen mutual confidence in Sarajevo, liberate remaining
prisoners of war and send all of the foreign volunteers away.
Christopher said he was encouraged by Izetbegovic's
determination to implement the agreement. The implementation is a
test for all, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, he said.
He also thanked Milosevic on assistance which had been offered
to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for human rights, John
Shattuck, during his recent stay in Srebrenica.
Shattuck would stay in the region a while longer, to visit
north-west Bosnia's Omarska area for investigation of war crimes.
Washington Administration has earmarked around U.S. dlrs 1
million to be assigned to the ICTY for excavation of the mass
graves, Christopher said.
Particularly impressed with his visit to Sarajevo, Christopher
said he met the officials of all three sides there, which had
seemed impossible only a short time ago. He called all who did not
believe that peace in Bosnia was possible to come and see for
themselves significant positive changes, achieved through American
leadership and with efforts of other countries.
Sarajevo looked free of fear after three years of siege, he
said.
Diplomats, accompanying Christopher, said that he would soon
arrive again, to inspect the results of the implementation.
(Hina) bk
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