E.U. ADMINISTRATION REJECTS BOSNIAN ARMY DEMAND TO RETURN TO MOSTA

MOSTA $ R MOSTAR, May 10 (Hina) - The European Union Administration of Mostar has rejected a Moslem demand for the 4th Corps of the Bosnian Army to return to Mostar, assistant administrator Klaus Metscher said on Friday. The demand had been presented by Bosnian prime minister Hasan Muratovic at a meeting with EU administrator Ricardo Perez Casado in Sarajevo earlier this week, Metscher told a press conference in Mostar. Metscher said that military forces could not be stationed in Mostar because it had been demilitarized. The EU Administration was bound by the Memorandum of Understanding which envisaged Mostar to remain demilitarized as long as the Administration was in the city, he added. All issues arising from the Memorandum would be open to reconsideration once the City Council is established after local elections due to take place on May 31, he said. Metscher said that the EU Administration still supported the date for elections, adding that a deadline for registration of political parties and candidates was expiring at midnight Friday. (hina) vm jn 101453 MET may 96