SERB MEMBER OBSTRUCTED WORK OF BH PRESIDENCY - SAYS U.S. ENVOY

( Editorial: --> 2672 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 24 (Hina) - The United States is looking forward to cooperation with Zivko Radisic in case he is elected as the Serb member of Bosnia's Presidency, U.S. special envoy for the Balkans Robert Gelbard said on Wednesday. According to ONASA news agency, Gelbard told reporters in Banja Luka the limited state mechanisms of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) could not develop due to past obstructions to the Presidency's work caused by current Bosnian Serb representative and Serb Democratic Party member Momcilo Krajisnik. The U.S. will respect the people's will shown at the September 12 and 13 general elections, Gelbard said, but added still due was the official confirmation that Nikola Poplasen had won as presidential candidate for the Bosnian Serb entity. Gelbard said if Poplasen had indeed won, the U.S. would have serious questions as to his willingness to implement all aspects of the Dayton peace agreement and to respect BH's territorial integrity and sovereignty. We are also very concerned about Poplasen's repeated calls to violence, Gelbard added. The U.S. envoy pointed out the international community would consider any mention of possible secession of one of BH's parts as the most outspoken opposition to the peace agreement. In Banja Luka, the Bosnian Serb entity's largest town, Gelbard held talks with entity President Biljana Plavsic and Premier Milorad Dodik. According to Dodik, the talks tackled the necessity of maintaining stability in the entity and the functioning of all bodies of authority. (hina) ha 241147 MET sep 98