U.N. WILL REMAIN ACTIVE IN PEACE PROCESS - ANNAN

SARAJEVO, Feb 29 (Hina) - UN special envoy Kofi Annan said in Sarajevo on Thursday that the UN would remain active in the peace process not only in Bosnia but in the whole region after NATO took over the implementation of the peace agreement. Annan met the commander in chief of the NATO-led peace Implementation Force, Admiral Leighton Smith, the high representative for the implementation of civilian aspects of the peace agreement, Carl Bildt, and Bosnian government officials for talks on the progress of the peace process in the last four months. Annan told a press conference that the process was remarkably successful and that the UN would continue to encourage full cooperation between the newly-emerged states of former Yugoslavia. Annan particularly stressed the importance of a UN mission in the Eastern Slavonia area of Croatia, expressing hope that it would help permanently stabilize the area. (hina) vm 291752 MET feb 96