WAR CRIMINALS AT LARGE IS FIRST-CLASS SCANDAL - MURPHY

SARAJEVO, Nov 2 (Hina) - The fact that war criminals were walking freely in Bosnia-Herzegovina was a first-class scandal which threatened to become the Srebrenica of this moment, spokesman of the international high representative's Office, Colum Murphy said in Sarajevo on Saturday. #L# The responsibility of arresting war crimes suspects, in line with the Dayton Agreement, lay primarily with the powers in Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo, Murphy said, adding that in such a situation which insulted all the victims, the international community could not stand aside. Carl Bildt expressed concern about the fact that persons searched for by the International Tribunal in The Hague not only remained at large, but were at different levels in bodies of power, as was the case with four members of the Serb police in Prijedor and president of the Bosanski Samac municipality, Blagoje Simic. Bildt began a new round of talks with IFOR and international police officials and his visit to Pale was announced on Saturday. The international community could not escape its responsibility, especially after the UN Security Council had established the International War Crimes Tribunal, and the attention of the whole world had turned to the problem," Murphy said. The troops in Bosnia were not trained for criminal investigations, but in this case, instruments had to be found which would prevent any side from mocking the international community, he said, stressing that this was Bildt's personal stance. It was up to member countries of the Security Council to establish mechanisms necessary for taking concrete action, Murphy said. He stressed that such measures would present a significant contribution to making peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the strengthening of peace. (hina) lm 021421 MET nov 96