AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA MINISTERIAL COUNCIL SEEMS TO BE IN SIGHT

SARAJEVO, Nov 9 (Hina) - A spokesman for the office of the international peace mediator in Bosnia-Herzegovina Carl Bildt, on Saturday voiced a hope that agreement on the composition of the Bosnian ministerial council would be reached at the next meeting of Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-member presidency, due to be on November 12. Spokesman Colum Murphy confirmed that Bosnian Croat and Moslem representatives, Kresimir Zubak and Alija Izetbegovic respectively, had harmonized views on the composition and authority of the council of ministers, whereas the Bosnian Serb presidency member, Momcilo Krajisnik, insisted that the council could consist of only two ministers and one chairman. There was no agreement on roles of the ministerial council. Krajisnik wanted it to be subordinated and under control of the presidency, whereas Bosnian Croats and Moslems would like the council be more a partner, Murphy added. He warned that the council must be very soon established because of the progress in the peace process. Bildt's office would like that discussions on the organization of the ministerial council end before the Paris conference on the implementation of the Dayton peace accord, due to be on November 14. Murphy said Izetbegovic, Krajisnik and Zubak would travel together to the conference. On Saturday afternoon Carl Bildt and Momcilo Krajisnik held talks, at Pale (outside Sarajevo), on the organization of the ministerial council. After the talks the Bosnian Serb representative said they had reached agreement on the structure and the organization of the council of ministers, according to the Pale-based Serb radio broadcasting. Bildt was now to discuss that agreement with Izetbegovic and Zubak, Krajisnik said adding that he and other two presidency members could reach agreement (at the session scheduled for 12 Nov) that can serve as basis for the participation of the ministerial council chairmanship and the foreign minister at the Paris conference. The U.S. Embassy in the Bosnian capital announced that the US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum would arrive in Sarajevo on Sunday for a two-day visit. It was not announced whom Kornblum would met, but it was said that the main topic of his talks would be the establishment of the joint bodies of authority in Bosnia- Herzegovina. (hina) mš 091903 MET nov 96