U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS FEDERATION PRESIDENT ZUBAK

ZUBAK $ SARAJEVO, 13 Jan (Hina) - At the end of his three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum met with Kresimir Zubak, Bosnian Presidency member and president of the Croat-Muslim Federation, in Sarajevo on Monday. One still had to solve numerous problems concerning the implementation of the peace process, Kornblum told reporters after meeting Zubak. Considerable progress had been achieved in the past period, Kornblum said, adding the progress was greater than it seemed to be. That progress included the establishment of the Croat-Muslim Federation and Republika Srpska, state structures and peace in the country, Kornblum summarized. However, he warned that one should work more on the revival of economy as well as on the establishment of freedom of movement and apprehension of war criminals. That called for the support of all sides for the Dayton agreement, including the Croat side, Kornblum said, adding he would discuss the issue with Croatian officials in Zagreb. Progress had also been achieved in the establishment of the Federation and it was necessary to work on its strengthening, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State said. Zubak said after the meeting that he had warned Kornblum of numerous unsolved problems in the Federation. The dismantling of some bodies of authority in Herzeg-Bosnia caused the Croat people to lose an instrument which had enabled them to convince the partner to cooperate in strengthening the Federation, Zubak said. Zubak stressed the question of the Bosnian state television, the reorganization of municipalities, the establishment of municipal bodies of authority in Sarajevo and the return of refugees and displaced people. Those problems would be considered at a meeting of the Federation Forum which is expected to take place in two weeks. U.S. mediators would see to it that both sides fulfill the commitments they had taken over, Zubak said. (hina) rm jn 131502 MET jan 97