MOSTAR WILL REMAIN ONE CITY, KOSCHNIK SAYS

ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Mostar will remain one city and we will not allow it to be divided into two ghettos - everything else is negotiable, EU Administrator in Mostar Hans Koschnik told a press conference today after his meeting with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Koschnik said Croatia had a strategic interest in establishing the Moslem-Croat Federation. "If the people could live without separation lines and enjoed full freedom of movement, then the Bosnian Federation might succeed," he said. Speaking about the situation in Mostar, Koschnik stressed the problem of mines which had not been cleared in all neighbourhoods. The Croat Defence Council (HVO) had removed all the mines from their territory and prepared the area for rebuilding. Koschnik believed he would be able to integrate police forces in Mostar, even if the process would take longer then he had thought. The decision itself was a great step forward, he added. Referring to the demilitarization of the city, he said the center was aldready demilitarized. But both the HVO and the Bosnian army were present in the greater Mostar area. "But then, I want them to be there because the front line toward the Serbs is only 3 to 10 km away from the downtown area," Koschnik said. If the troops completely withdrew, the people of Mostar would live in fear, he said. "Troops on both sides are a guarantee for maintaining peace," Koschnik concluded. (Hina) mar rv as 141726 MET feb 95