GARROD HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ON RESULTS OF EU ADMINISTRATION

MOSTAR, 20 Dec (Hina) - The European Union Administrator of Mostar, Sir Martin Garrod, whose mandate expires at the end of this year, held a farewell press conference in Mostar on Friday. During 1997, the EU office in Mostar would complete all reconstruction projects it had started, Garrod said, adding he would take over the post of the head of the regional office of the international community commissioner in Bosnia, located in Mostar. #L# Speaking about the coming year, Garrod expressed optimism, which he said was based on all that had been done lately in the establishment of Federation authorities, especially as regarded the dismantling of the Croat Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia. Garrod spoke about what the European Union had done for two and half years of its mandate in the reconstruction, stabilization of the situation in Mostar and reuniting its two parts. The European Union had invested DM 270 million in Mostar in that period, Garrod said. As far as the return of refugees was concerned, there was almost no progress, but considerable progress had been achieved as far as freedom of movement was concerned. The EU laid special stress on uniting police forces, which, according to Garrod, was a key to the establishment of stability and the prevention of criminal acts such as evictions, stoning and shooting. Garrod stressed the importance of public condemnation of such acts by Mostar Mayor Ivica Prskalo and his deputy Safet Orucevic. Speaking about the political part of the mandate, Garrod stressed the importance of democratic election of the city mayor and the beginning of work of the City Council and city administration. (hina) rm jn 201515 MET dec 96