BRCKO - TEST CASE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, Jan 9 (Hina) - Spokesman for the Stabilisation Force, Andrew Saddleton, on Thursday called on Bosnian Federation and Serb Republic authorities to show maximum restraint in the Brcko arbitration proceedings. "SFOR considers that verbal showdowns between the sides hinder the arbitration proceedings and do not contribute to a positive solution," Saddleton said. Voicing his hope that the two sides would be willing to cooperate, Saddleton said Brcko was a test case which would show the sides' readiness to abide by the spirit and letter of the peace agreement. Bosnian Serb authorities are marking the anniversary of the foundation of Republica Srpska by a splashy celebration in Brcko on Thursday Jan 9, the very day the arbitration court is to convene in Rome. Meanwhile, the Sarajevo media are treating the Brcko arbitration as the main issue for the future of the peace process. Before leaving for Rome, Federal officials stressed that the only just and equitable ruling would be to adjudge Brcko to the Federation. (hina) as 091359 MET jan 97