IZETBEGOVIC OPTIMISTIC REGARDING FINAL SOLUTION FOR BRCKO

( Editorial: --> 0479 ) SARAJEVO, Mar 18 (Hina) - Unlike most Bosniak (Muslim) officials in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnian Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic is not entirely dissatisfied with a decision postponing a solution for Brcko, a town in north-eastern Bosnia. A careful reading of chief arbiter Roberts Owen's Sunday decision discloses many important messages, Izetbegovic told Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz in its Wednesday issue. The most interesting of these messages, according to the chairman, is that Bosnian Serb entity Premier Milorad Dodik must return Croats and Bosniaks to Brcko, establish a multi-national authority and police, eliminate war criminals from the town and create a free trade zone. This creates a new factual situation, Izetbegovic assessed, adding Dodik would not able to entirely do with his "homework", for which reason Brcko would not remain in the Bosnian Serb entity. "The final outcome will see Brcko in the (Croat-Muslim) Federation or Brcko as a state district", Izetbegovic told Dnevni Avaz. An international arbitration commission postponed the decision on the status of Brcko until late this or early next year. (hina) ha mm 181113 MET mar 98