WESTENDORP'S OFFICE & UN CONCERNED OVER TRAVNIK INCIDENT

( Editorial: --> 2528 ) SARAJEVO, March 26 (Hina) - International organisations in charge of implementing the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina are seriously considering the situation in central Bosnia, following the latest attack on Croat refugees who tried to visit their pre-war homes in the area of Travnik. Aisling Burne, spokeswoman for the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo said Thursday that the events in Travnik caused serious concern and that all refugees from Bosnia- Herzegovina should have equal guarantees for return. At a meeting held in Bonn on Wednesday, ambassadors of Contact Group member-states warned about attempts aimed at thwarting the Dayton agreement in the Croat-Muslim Federation. Burne recalled that the Contact Group demanded from the Federation authorities to immediately take action with the aim of improving the process of police reorganisation, securing the return of minority ethnic groups, dissolving illegal institutions and carrying out economic reforms. UN spokesman Liam McDowall said the UN shared concern caused by the situation in the area of Travnik adding the International Police Task Force (IPTF) had commenced an investigation. We received many reports on intimidation of Croats who are trying to return to their pre-war homes. We have engaged many police officers in order to establish exactly what happened last weekend, McDowall said. A group of Croat refugees was attacked last weekend in the villages of Mala and Velika Bukovica. No measures against those responsible for the incident have been taken so far. Martin Raguz, head of the office of the Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency Kresimir Zubak, called for a decisive action of international organisations and punishment of perpetrators and representatives of local authorities. (hina) jn rm , 261450 MET mar 98