U.S.A. WILL NOT SUPPORT ARMING OF FEDERAL FORCES OUTSIDE 'EQUIP AN

AN $ D TRAIN' PROGRAM WASHINGTON, 25 July (Hina) - James Pardew, special U.S. representative for the military balance in the Balkans yesterday stated that the United States would not support any projects aimed at arming the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina outside the framework of the U.S. 'Equip and Train' program which started on 16 July. Pardew recalled that the aim of the program was to create an independent, united and professional army which would be able to defend its people and the Federation territory. All equipment envisaged by the programme should be transported to the Federation by IFOR's departure from Bosnia. According to Pardew, the first shipments of military equipment were intended for the Bosniac-Muslim part of the Federation military forces, since the Croat units were better armed. (hina) rm jn 251048 MET jul 96