STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ON GENEVA TALKS

GENEVA, 14 Aug (Hina) - The presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia should secure conditions for the successful organisation of elections and implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told a press conference on Wednesday following the meeting between the three presidents and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher. #L# According to Burns, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic would have to secure freedom of movement and freedom of the media if he wanted the elections to be completed successfully. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman should exert his influence in abolishing the Bosnian Croat republic of Herzeg-Bosnia, while Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic had to secure the extradition of war criminals, as well as prevent the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic from participating in the bodies of authority. Milosevic would also have to secure freedom of movement and correct certain irregularities concerning the registration of voters in Bosnia. Burns said that the functioning of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina had been the main topic during this morning's talks between U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Croatia's President Tudjman. Christopher stressed the importance of the abolishment of Herzeg-Bosnia and the transfer of its authority to institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Despite the fact that only the Federation's Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic had arrived in Geneva, but not the Federation's President Kresimir Zubak, agreement on the transfer of authority could soon be expected, Burns said, adding President Tudjman had promised that Herzeg-Bosnia would be abolished. Burns praised the situation in eastern Slavonia. Another problem Croatia still had to solve was the extradition of war criminals who, Burns said, had been seen walking freely on its territory. The extradition of war criminals would be the main topic during Christopher-Milosevic talks, Burns said, adding that the Bosnian Serbs were in the last place as far as respect for that part of the Dayton agreement was concerned. (hina) rm 141728 MET aug 96