OSCE REPS, BILDT'S OFFICE PREVENT EVICTION FROM A SARAJEVO FLAT

SARAJEVO, 19 Dec (Hina) - Representatives of the international peace coordinator Carl Bildt's office in Sarajevo and members of the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia yesterday prevented an eviction from a flat in Sarajevo, at the request of one of Bosnia's ombudsmen. The eviction had been prevented only thanks to direct pressure by international organizations, but the problem was not solved, said David Foley, OSCE spokesman in Sarajevo. Bosnian army members agreed after negotiations only to postpone the eviction until Monday, when another eviction is to take place. The disputed flat belonged to the housing fund of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), but it had been confirmed by special regulations that there can be no evictions from JNA flats if they are not confirmed by the House for Human Rights, a special institution based on the Dayton Constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina. OSCE was very concerned about the failure of Bosnia's authorities to respect the powers of human rights commissioners (ombudsmen) and the House for Human Rights, Foley said, stressing that both institutions had been formed in Dayton with the aim of dealing with such cases. (hina) rm jn 191433 MET dec 96