US AMBASSADOR EXPRESSES INTEREST IN SITUATION IN DRVAR

( Editorial: --> 3202 ) SARAJEVO, Feb 19 (Hina) - Bosnian Federation Defence Minister Ante Jelavic on Thursday received the US Ambassador to Bosnia- Herzegovina, Richard Kauzlarich, who was accompanied by the US Military Attache, Timothy Libby. Kauzlarich expressed interest in the military and security situation in Drvar (western Bosnia), especially in cases of destruction of private property which had happened during the past several days. Kauzlaric told Jelavic that he expected members of the Bosnian Federation army not to take part in such incidents and not to prevent the return of refugees, the Bosnian Federation Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Jelavic said during the meeting that he had given out an order for the cases of arson to be thoroughly investigated, adding that the preliminary information showed that members of the Bosnian Federation army had not taken part in the incidents. The investigation, however, was under way, and if it is established that a soldier had taken part in the incidents, he would be severely punished, Jelavic said. (hina) lm jn 192027 MET feb 98