KORNBLUM HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Aug 30 (Hina) - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum on Friday said that the United States would continue in their efforts whose aim was the strengthening of the Croatian- Bosniak federation, for which the implementation of the Geneva agreement of 15 August on the transfer of authority from the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Croatian Republic of Herzeg- Bosnia to authorities in the Federation was of key importance. "Our aim is the establishment of an integral federal structure for which it is of equal importance to put out all functions of Herzeg-Bosnia and transfer those authorities from the Republic of BH which are not in accordance with the Dayton Constitution to the Federation", Kornblum told a press conference in Sarajevo after the session of the Federation Forum. Answering a question on the fate of Herzeg-Bosnia, Kornblum said that it ceased to function lawfully on 31 August, while all "technical" matters in this respect would be solved by 15 September. He confirmed that he was acquainted with opinions of Croat officials in BH that in the future Herzeg-Bosnia would function as a cultural or some such union of Croats, but pointed out that this was not discussed within the Forum. Kornblum added that this would not be a problem if Federation authorities function as agreed. It was stated at the Forum that both sides had fulfilled most of the obligations undertaken in Geneva, Kornblum said, adding that the majority of the decisions had been reached by consensus. Earlier today Kornblum met with representatives of Republika Srpska and the Banja Luka opposition whom he told clearly that the Dayton Agreement must be implemented fully. "The continuity and integrity of BH is one of the bases of the Dayton Agreement and I have warned politicians in the Serb entity that no secession will be allowed after elections", Kornblum said, adding that entities would have no sovereignty and only the preservation of identity of a people within BH would be allowed. Kornblum concluded by saying that on election day all incidents must be prevented, because it was in the interest of all sides that elections take place in the arranged time. (hina) ha 302253 MET aug 96