POLICE IN B-H FEDERATION ILLEGALLY PROFIT FROM REGISTRATION PLATES

( Editorial: --> 2545 ) SARAJEVO, 17 Feb (Hina) - Hans Schumacher, the Deputy High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, requested that measures be taken to stop police illegally earning money on the exchange of registration plates for vehicles in B-H. A spokesman for the High Representative's office, Simon Haselock, announced on Tuesday in Sarajevo that Schumacher has forwarded this request in writing to the responsible senior officials in the Bosnian Councils of Ministers and Interior Ministries of the two entities. "It is an unaccepatble fact that some police stations responsible for the issue of joint registration plates are charging an administration fee of 50 to 120 deutschemarks," it says in Schumacher's letter with a reminder that it is agreed that only the production cost of the plates be charged and that is DM15. According to Simon Haselock this practice has only been noticed on the territory of the Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina. UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko today said that in Republika Srpska to date the reverse practice has been noticed. "There you can get new registration plates for DM4," said Ivanko. According to the previous agreement between the Office of the High Representative and B-H officials from the two entities, the exchange of registration plates will stay at DM15 until the end of March but after that could increase to DM30. These measures were agreed to encourage as many citizens of B-H to exchange the old plates for new number plates which do not have any regional symbols. (hina) mm mrb 171521 MET feb 98