SERBS WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT ARBITRATION COMMISSION DECISION - BURNS

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Hina) - The U.S. State Department on Monday warned Bosnian Serbs that they would have to accept a final decision of the arbitration commission for Brcko (a strategic northern Bosnian town) despite their withdrawal from the arbitration process. With them or without their direct participation in the arbitration process, the arbitration commission for Brcko would make a decision. Under the Dayton agreement, Bosnian Serbs were obliged to accept and implement the independent decision the arbitration commission reached, US State Department spokesman, Nicholas Burns said on Monday. Bosnian Serbs on Sunday announced that they were withdrawing from the commission for the arbitration on the final status of the town and harbour of Brcko, their reason being that a resolution was being drafted which was in conflict with the interests of Republika Srpska. American attorney Roberts Owen chairs the commission. (hina) lm mš 022306 MET dec 96