PRESIDENT OF ICRC ON ISSUE OF EXCHANGE OF POWS

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Cornelio Sommaruga held a press-conference in Zagreb today. Mr. Sommaruga pointed out that the greatest concern of the ICRC is Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to the President of the ICRC, a step forward in the treatment of the warring factions in B-H to humanitarian activities has been already achieved, and proof of this is the fact that a humanitarian convoy has arrived in the town of Gorazde (eastern Bosnia). Mr. Sommaruga commented in detail the issue of exchange of prisoners- of-war and detainees as well as the issue of missing persons. He expressed optimism to a certain extent concerning solutions to those problems. Asked when the exchange of POWs between Croatia and the so-called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) might take place, the President of the ICRC could not give any precise answer at today's press-conference in Zagreb. However, he stressed that it would be very important to free this issue from the political charges. 251807 MET nov 93