UN DISAPPOINTED WITH NON-DISMISSAL OF PROZOR POLICE HEAD

( Editorial: --> 2602 ) MOSTAR, Feb 17 (Hina) - The UN mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina is disappointed that the Interior Minister of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton has not dismissed the head of police in Prozor/Rama. According to International Police Task Force spokeswoman Kelly Moore, the dismissal of the head of Bosnian Croat-controlled Prozor police, Franjo Slisko, was demanded on 11 February by the IPTF commissioner in Bosnia, Manfred Steiner, due to unprofessional behaviour. On Tuesday Moore said that at a Monday meeting with representatives of the UN mission, Canton Interior Minister Valentin Coric had assessed that "from a political point of view there is no reason to dismiss Mr Slisko". The IPTF was of the contrary opinion, Moore said, as Slisko had not passed the IPTF evaluation procedure like thousands of policemen throughout Bosnia. The IPTF was in possession of 39 reports on Slisko's violations of professional behaviour rules, Moore added. She warned that the IPTF was considering "alternative measures" to be taken if the cantonal interior minister failed to take responsibility and replace Slisko with a head of police who would professionally carry out his duty. Moore refused to give more details on the mentioned measures. (hina) ha jn 171750 MET feb 98