BOSNIAN MOSLEMS, CROATS DISAGREE OVER COMPOSITION OF JOINT ARMY

SARAJEVO, Jan 23 (Hina) - Bosnian Federation Defence Minister Ante Jelavic said in an interview with the Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje published on Thursday that the implementation of the US-sponsored "Train and Equip" military programme was going according to schedule, but warned that the federal partners Moslems and Croats disagreed over the strength and national composition of military forces forming a single defence system. "As far as the Croats are concerned, we can make a decision on the setup of a joint command and defence ministry tomorrow," Jelavic said, adding that the two sides were discussing the matters through mediation of US diplomat James Pardew. Jelavic said that the Croat view was that the posts of Federation army commander and deputy commander were not necessary and that it was sufficient to have only a chief of staff and his deputy. Since the Moslem side insists on it, the Croats demand that the relationship between commander and deputy commander be regulated according to that between the Federation defence minister and his deputy so that the interests of the Croat people in the chain of command would be protected, he said. Jelavic warned that the decision on establishing a 30,000- strong armed force was called into question primarily because of the Federation's limited financial resources. The 1997 budget provides for DM 350 million for that purpose while estimates show that about DM 500 million would be needed for the salaries of active force members alone. The overall costs of maintaining such a force, once it has been fully equipped, may reach DM 2 billion, according to Jelavic. (hina) vm mm 231148 MET jan 97