US ADMINISTRATION SUSPENDS "EQUIP AND TRAIN" PROGRAMME

( Editorial: --> 9038 ) WASHINGTON, June 5 (Hina) - The US administration this week suspended its programme aimed at equipping and training the Bosnian Federation Army, Brigadier Miroslav Nikolic, Federation administrator for contracts within the "Equip and Train" programme, said in Washington on Thursday. James Pardew, special US envoy for military stabilisation in the Balkans, last week sent a letter to federal partners announcing the suspension of the programme on June 1 unless five conditions are met. The conditions included the introduction of joint military insignia on Federation army uniforms, the levelling of ranks, the exclusion of political activities for officers, respect for the number limit for generals (20 for Bosniaks and ten for Croats) and the use of exclusively Federation flags and those of Bosnia- Herzegovina. Since the last condition was not met, Pardew suspended the programme. Brigadier Nikolic said the Croat side believed that both the Federation Constitution and the Constitution of Bosnia- Herzegovina allowed all three constituent peoples to use their national flags. Implementation of the "Equip and Train" programme started in summer 1996. (hina) rml 051058 MET jun 98