BILDT AND AIDE LEAVE FOR BRCKO

SARAJEVO, Feb 15 (Hina) - The international community's high representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carl Bildt, and UN mission chief Kai Aide left for the contested northern town of Brcko on Saturday to meet local Serb authorities for talks on the implementation of Friday's decision by the international arbitration tribunal. Michael McLay, a spokesman for Bildt's office, said in Sarajevo that this practically marked the beginning of consolidation of the situation in the Brcko area. He added that Bildt would discuss this issue with representatives of all three peoples in the area. The main tasks of Bildt's deputy who would be sent to the area under the arbitration decision, would be to ensure freedom of movement and create conditions for the return of refugees and the establishment of local government institutions, McLay said. The spokesman said that a multi-ethnic government was expected to be established in Brcko after municipal elections planned for July. He added that there were reasons to believe in the successful implementation of the decision on the temporary status of Brcko. The attention of the international community would be directed at this area and failure by any party to cooperate would have a crucial influence on a final decision on the status of this town in March next year, he said. McLay said that the arbitration tribunal ruling created all preconditions for Brcko to become a zone of real cooperation. The NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) said that the situation in the Brcko area was almost completely calm on Saturday. However, an overnight explosion destroyed a building east of Brcko, wounding one person, SFOR spokesman Andrew Saddleton said in Sarajevo. UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko said that the International Police Task Force command was involved in the preparation of plans for deploying fresh police forces in the Brcko area. Ivanko said that a possible enlargement of their powers would depend on a decision by the UN Security Council. International police have an observer role and do not have the authority to make arrests or to carry arms. UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said that the return of refugees to Brcko was likely to present the biggest challenge to the implementation of the arbitration decision. Janowski said that it was very likely that refugees would be returning according to the procedure valid for the zones of separation. All people wishing to return would have to report to a special commission who would grant their applications on the basis of precise rules, he added. (hina) vm 151317 MET feb 97