Holbrooke: pushing the Bosnian peace process forward

Richard Holbrooke discusses the issues which weren't agreed on at a Sarajevo news conference

Holbrooke Secures Deal as Bosnia Mission Continues

Serb and Croat leaders had complained that the current distribution of posts is dominated by the mainly Muslim Bosnian government. The appointments were made during the war, when the Bosnian government army fought against Serb and Croat separatists.

The Bosnian government, in turn, was concerned that the Serbs and Croats would appoint hardliners to the posts, with the result that Bosnia would be represented abroad by individuals opposed to a unitary Bosnian state.

Under the deal arranged by Mr Holbrooke, the Bosnian Ambassador to the UN will be a Muslim, while a Serb will serve at the Washington Embassy and a Croat will serve at the Embassy in Tokyo.

Mr Holbrooke also obtained a deal on the creation of a joint military commission as well as agreement on a single area code for the Bosnian telephone network.

But on another important issue - a common currency coupon - there was no agreement. Bosnia will now be denied a $90 million from the International Monetary Fund.

Members of the Bosnian collective presidency at the meeting with Holbrooke

The American Envoy later left Sarajevo to meet the Bosnian Serb President, Biljana Plavsic, in the north-western town of Banja Luka.

Ms Plavsic has been engaged in a bitter power struggle with the former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, and his allies. Mr Karadzic has been indicted for war crimes by the International Tribunal in The Hague, but is still at large.

Although there are no political difference between them, Ms Plavsic has accused Mr Karadzic of organising smuggling rackets in Bosnian Serb territory.

The ruling Serb Democratic Party (SDS) expelled Ms Plavsic because of her conflict with Mr Karadzic. The Serb Constitutional Court is now debating whether Ms Plavsic can remain as President.

Mr Holbrooke will discuss the present situation in the Bosnian Serb republic with Ms Plavsic. Mr Karadzic is likely to figure prominently in their talks - there is growing pressure within the US to arrest him and place him on trial in The Hague.

Later, Mr Holbrooke and his colleague Richard Gelbard will travel to Belgrade for talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. It's understood that he will press Mr Milosevic to use his influence to secure Mr Karadzic's arrest.

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Office of the High Representative in Bosnia
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