CENTRAL BOSNIA CANTON POLICE FORCE ESTABLISHED

TRAVNIK, 22 Aug (Hina) - With the presentation of a 120-member Croat-Bosniak police unit which took place in Travnik on Friday, the police force of Central Bosnia Canton was established. The ceremony was attended by the President and Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vladimir Soljic and Ejup Ganic respectively, the President and Vice President of the Federation Government Edhem Bicakcic and Drago Bilandzija, Federation Interior Ministry Mehmed Zilic and his deputy Jozo Leutar and numerous representatives of the Office of the High Representative, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Police Task Force and Stabilisation Force and international mediator for Bosnia- Herzegovina Christian Schwarz-Schilling. All participants in the ceremony agreed that the establishment of the canton police is a crucial step in the development of Central Bosnia Canton and a contribution to the Federation project as a whole. Canton Prefect Ivan Saric said that the establishment of canton police would be important only if it contributed to the promotion of human rights and freedoms, the return of 90,000 refugees to the canton and the protection of aims and interests of both the Croat and Bosniak peoples. The group of 120 police officers wearing new uniforms and representing all 1,059 members of the canton police, took solemn oaths and signed the Code of Conduct of the Professional Police Officer. At the end of the ceremony, IPTF deputy commissioner David Kriskovich presented the Canton Interior Ministry with a charter expressing IPTF recognition of the successful establishment of Central Bosnia Canton police. (hina) rm 222103 MET aug 97