US ADMINISTRATION ENDORSES UN CRITICISM OF BOSNIAN GOVT

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Hina) - The US Administration on Friday endorsed a UN criticism of the Bosnian Government over its failure to fulfill agreements on freedom of movement in Sarajevo and joint police patrols. #L# State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns added that the Bosnian Government had established checkpoints in Vogosca and sent Bosnian police to patrol the area without the escort of international police, in violation of the peace agreement. He said there were still 100 to 150 foreign soldiers in Bosnia. "The Bosnian Government still has the responsibility to deport these men," he said. But he qualified the Bosnian Serb consent to resume contacts with IFOR as a "positive move". "We are going to monitor the Serbs' behaviour over the next few weeks to make sure their words are followed by actions," Burns said. He announced that Bosnian Serbs might be rewarded for their observance of the military part of the Dayton Agreement by a partial suspension of sanctions. Burns described the situation in Mostar as more stable, since joint patrols were doing their jobs and there was freedom of movement. "On the whole, a considerable progress has been made in Mostar," he concluded. (hina) as 232256 MET feb 96