B-H FEDERATION FORUM DISCUSSES FREEDOM OF MEDIA

SARAJEVO, April 17 (Hina) - High officials of the Republic and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed the establishment and activities of independent media, as one of conditions for the implementation of free and democratic elections, at a meeting of the Bosnian Federation Forum held last Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by the U.S. charge d'affaires Darryl Johnson, while state delegations were led by Premiers Hasan Muratovic and Izudin Kapetanovic, a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo said. The high officials discussed the possibility of establishing independent radio and TV stations, the allocation of concessions and the publishing of newspapers. Discussions were held with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), representatives of the international peace coordinator Carl Bildt's office, the Soros foundation and the International Implementation Force, the statement said. No concrete agreement had been reached, but U.S. representatives expected the talks to continue, the statement said. (hina) ha jn 171937 MET apr 96