SPANISH PREMIER VISITS MOSTAR

MOSTAR, July 8 (Hina) - Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar and Defense Minister Eduardo Serra on Monday visited Mostar and the headquarters of the Spanish brigade of the NATO-led Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Medjugorje this afternoon. Aznar laid a wreath on the Mostar Spanish Square in memory of 17 Spanish soldiers killed in the peace mission in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Aznar and Serra held talks with European Administrator for Mostar, Ricardo Perez Casado, and the two Mostar mayors, Mijo Brajkovic of Western Mostar and Safet Orucevic of Eastern Mostar. Speaking on behalf of Brajkovic, U.N. Administration spokesman Dragan Gasic said relations with Spanish representatives in Mostar, who had done a lot for both sides, were extremely good. The elections passed with no incidents, but there were several small still unsolved legal problems which would take some time, but would eventually be solved, Gasic quoted Brajkovic. Gasic quoted Orucevic as saying that Mostar was on the point when it should become a united city and that this was an important phase. The president of the Serb National Union in Mostar thanked Spain for all it had done for Mostar so far, and congratulated the European Union and all Mostar inhabitants on the successful elections. He also pointed out that it was important to solve the legal problems mentioned by Brajkovic. Gasic quoted Aznar as saying that the European Union would support Mostar politicians if they found a common language and established joint institutions. (hina) ha lm 081701 MET jul 96