SARAJEVO, June 14 (Hina) - Accepting the Law on defense of the Bosnian Federation is the most important test of readiness of the establishment of serious relations with the United states in the field of defense for the leaders of the
Federation, special U.S. envoy for issues of military stability in the Balkans, James Pardew, said in Sarajevo on Friday.
SARAJEVO, June 14 (Hina) - Accepting the Law on defense of the
Bosnian Federation is the most important test of readiness of the
establishment of serious relations with the United states in the
field of defense for the leaders of the Federation, special U.S.
envoy for issues of military stability in the Balkans, James
Pardew, said in Sarajevo on Friday. #L#
Presidents Zubak and Izetbegovic, Defense Minister Soljic and
his deputy Cengic had failed to reach an agreement on the final
bill because there remained a contentious issue of the role of the
Bosnian Presidency in commanding the armed forces.
All other issues had been agreed on, Pardew said, but refused
to say which side was responsible for the present hindrance in
reaching an agreement on the defense law.
Pardew reiterated a warning that without the law the
implementation of the "Equip and Train" programme for defense
forces of the Bosnian federation could not begin.
International donators have already set aside some U.S. $ 140
million for this programme and it can begin to be implemented as
soon as the defense law is accepted by the federal Parliament and
the remainder of foreign armed forces leave Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pardew said that he had held talks with the President of the
Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic about the
presence of foreign armed forces in Bosnia, but failed to say how
many foreign soldiers there were in Bosnia at the moment.
(hina) lm jn
142020 MET jun 96