Military

DATE=10/26/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N / BOSNIA (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-268490

BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The man in charge of overseeing the Dayton peace agreement on Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch, told the U-N Security Council Thursday that, despite other demands in the Balkan region, the international community must continue its support for Bosnia. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Petritsch told the Council that progress in creating a truly united, multi-ethnic nation in Bosnia is being made, although it is often "frustratingly slow."

He said Bosnia now has one national passport and that all areas of the country can now be reached through one international telephone code . Mr. Petritsch said there are even some emerging signs of economic integration . However, he cautioned that Bosnia is and will remain a multiethnic society and that the November 11th elections there will, to a great extent, determine how much progress toward unity can continue.

Mr. Petritsch noted that the recent downfall of Slobodan Milosevic as president of Yugoslavia doubtless means international financial assistance will now be available for Yugoslavia. However, he said that should not mean less help for Bosnia.

/// PETRITSCH ACT ///

Our job there is unfinished. I am aware that Yugoslavia will need assistance on its way to democracy and there are many other hot spots in the world that are deserving of your attention. However, the international community has spent too much effort in Bosnia-Herzegovina to abandon this project prematurely. We need your continued moral, political and financial support to get it right.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Petritsch told the U-N meeting that the international community must hold up a "guiding light" to Bosnia but conceded that, ultimately, it will be up to Bosnian citizens themselves to create a prosperous and tolerant country. (Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/JWH