EXCERPTS FROM JOINT STATEMENT FROM GENEVA TALKS

GENEVA, June 3 (Hina) - The presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and representatives of international organizations involved in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina issued a joint statement in Geneva on Sunday night after day-long talks on the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The following are excerpts from the "Agreed Statement": "Joined by representatives of the two Bosnian entities, the Presidents emphasized that the most important next step in the peace process will be to hold free and fair elections within the time period established by the Agreement. They recommitted themselves to the task of establishing the necessary conditions for these elections under the supervision of the OSCE. Delay in the elections risks widening the divisions which continue to exist," the statement said. The presidents and entity representatives stressed that "free and fair elections will provide a democratic mandate for the governmental institutions to be established within the Entities and at the level of Bosnia-Herzegovina." "They stressed their common convictions that rapid establishment of of these institutions is essential if the process of building a democratic society which enjoys the support of all the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina is to succeed." The presidents and entity representatives pledged to respect the rules and regulations established by the Provisional Election Commission and all other privisions of the peace accords. "They noted in particular: -- the obligations of all Parties to fully cooperate in the investigation of war crimes and prosecution of all persons indicted for war crimes and to abide by the prohibition on persons indicted by the War Crimes Tribunal for war crimes seeking and holding an appointive, elective or other public office in Bosnia-Herzegovina. -- the need for more concerted efforts to ensure freedom of movement and facilitate the return of refugees (...) throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina (...). -- the obligation to provide free and equal access to the media (...). -- the necessity of commencing the Brcko Area Arbitration as stipulated in Annex II, Article 5 of the Agreement (...). --- the importance of concluding Arms Control talks under Article IV of the Agreement. The Presidents (...) have directed their negotiators to reach an agreement this week. -- the importance of the international community's economic reconstruction program in Bosnia-Herzegovina." (hina) vm jn 031242 MET jun 96