FEDERAL DEFENSE LAW SHOULD BE ACCEPTED NOW - PERRY

SARAJEVO, July 3 (Hina) - Agreement on the final text of the Bosnian Federation defense law was near, United States' Defense Minister William Perry said in Sarajevo on Wednesday, after talks with president of the Bosnian Presidency Alija Izetbegovic, president of the Bosnian Federation Kresimir Zubak, representatives of the Federation's Defense Ministry and commanders of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO) and Bosnian army, General Zivko Budimir and Rasim Delic. Perry said he expected Izetbegovic and Zubak to continue the discussion and reach resolutions to disputable provisions of the law. The Croatian side had accepted every agreement on the Defense Law so far, Zubak said. Izetbegovic confirmed that he would immediately continue talks with the Croatian side in order to remove the remaining problems - primarily concerning the civilian command of federal armed forces. Perry warned that IFOR had come to Bosnia-Herzegovina to establish peace, adding that the strengthening of peace did not depend on NATO, but on the enabling of the federal defense forces. The American programme of their equipping and training depended on the passing of the defense law, Perry said. Sources close to the Croatian delegation, who were present during talks with Perry, said that it was very difficult to expect a speedy agreement on the defense law because the Bosniac (Moslem) side wanted to change provisions concerning civilian command which had been agreed on in Dayton. The Bosniac side wanted to transfer authorities envisaged for the president and deputy president of the Federation to Croat and Bosniac members of the Bosnian Presidency, the sources said. During Wednesday's talks, Bosnian officials asked the United States to take more resolute action to remove Radovan Karadzic from public life. Answering questions from reporters, Perry said in a huff that he was tired of questions about when NATO forces would apprehend Karadzic. IFOR troops had been sent to Bosnia-Herzegovina to establish peace, no to apprehend war criminals, Perry said. After talks in Sarajevo, Perry is to continue his stay in Bosnia with a visit to NATO troops. He is to spend the U.S. Independence Day on Thursday with U.S. and Russian troops in northern Bosnia. (hina) lm jn 031745 MET jul 96