INTERNATIONAL REPS TO PREVENT PALE MEDIA FROM USING WAR RHETORIC

SARAJEVO, July 14 (Hina) - The Bosnian Serb-run media were conducting a systematic campaign to misinform the public about the constitutional crisis in the Republic of Srpska, a spokesman for the High Representative's office, said in Sarajevo on Monday. The spokesman, Duncan Bullivant, recalled that media had played an important role in spreading hatred during the war, and said that the international community's representatives were closely following programmes broadcast by the Pale-based television and radio so that on the basis of an analysis of broadcasts they could take certain measures in line with powers that the High Representative had got at the Sintra conference. Such decisions would be made by the end of this week, Bullivant added. According to powers granted to the High Representative, he (Carlos Westendorp) can suspend or limit activities of the media which work on contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Dayton accords. There is no official confirmation that Westendorp's office considers suspension of the Pale television, about which Sarajevo's media have been speculating, but according to some diplomatic sources, international organisations do not intend to stand idly and watch how the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) leadership again uses war rhetoric and spreads hatred. Bullivant deplored a statement of Dragan Kalinic, the speaker of the dissolved Serb assembly, in which the Serb blamed the international community for attempting to undermine the Republic of Srpska. The statement was broadcast by the Pale television on Sunday night. (hina) mm mš 141531 MET jul 97