OHR: CRONET HAS TO APPLY FOR OPERATING LICENCE IN BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 2147 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 22 (Hina) - The Office of the international High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina has requested that the Croatian GSM network CRONET remove its station set up recently on Mt Trebevic overlooking Sarajevo. The station covers the whole area of Sarajevo with the Croatian GSM network signal. This request was made because CRONET has not submitted the necessary operating documentation, OHR media advisor Erik MacKinly said in an interview with Tuesday's issue of the Sarajevo daily "Oslobodjenje". Another problem is that CRONET is using Croatia's code 385 on the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina. CRONET has to apply for a licence and one of the preconditions for it to be able to operate in Bosnia is to use Bosnia's code 387, MacKinly said. The OHR believes that telecommunications are an important factor in the country's economic revival and this is what prompted last week's adoption of a law regulating that area by High Representative Carlos Westendorp, he said. The law recognises the existence of three different post and telecommunications systems - based in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka. However, they will be able to continue functioning only if they are given the necessary permits. Such permits will be issued by an independent regulation agency for telecommunications, MacKinly said. The allocation of radio frequencies which the telecommunications systems want to use will be carried out within a period of two months from the reception of applications. It is for the entities themselves to decide how many post and telecommunications systems will be operating on their territory, MacKinly said. (hina) rml 221044 MET sep 98