BOSNIAN FEDERATION FORUM CONCERNED OVER KILLINGS OF CROATS ( Editorial: --> 7011 )

( Editorial: --> 7011 ) TRAVNIK, Oct 30 (Hina) - The Forum of the Bosnian Federation held a session in the central town of Travnik on Thursday, its first outside Sarajevo, under the chairmanship of US Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Richard Kauzlarich and the head of the Political Department of the Office of the High Representative, Christian Clages. Although the central topics should have been the return of refugees and privatisation, the session focused on a series of murders of Croats in the Travnik area in the last two months. In its conclusions, the Forum welcomed the establishment of a cantonal police force, but expressed concern about a growing number of crimes against Croats in the Travnik area. We demand that you publicly condemn the killings and support an independent investigation. We will not allow any violence and interfering in the investigation, Kauzlarich said, stressing that the United States stood firmly behind the project of the Federation as part of Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina. Federation President Vladimir Soljic insisted that the problem of a large number of foreign nationals in the Travnik area be solved. "I advocate preservation of the atmosphere of trust which has been achieved, but our patience is running out. There will be no Federation without the return of Croats to central Bosnia," Soljic said. Federation Vice President Ejup Ganic joined in the condemnation of the crimes. He said that the Bosniak Moslem people, as a majority nation in Travnik, should be more responsible for the overall atmosphere. The Forum concluded that the crimes were directed against all citizens of the Federation and the return of refugees with the aim of undermining the Moslem-Croat Federation. The Forum said it would agree additional measures with the International Police Task Force (IPTF) to curb violence, crime and terrorism in the Federation. (hina) vm jn. 302045 MET oct 97