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With Release of Prisoners, Stage Set for
Participation in Reconstruction Funding

By Dan De Luce
SARAJEVO, April 10 (Reuters) — International mediator Carl Bildt said on Wednesday that Bosnian Serb authorities were invited to a post-war reconstruction conference in Brussels after complying with terms for the release of prisoners of war.

"Since yesterday afternoon they (Bosnian Serbs) are in full compliance in the same way the (Muslim-Croat) federation side has been for the last three days," Bildt told a news conference in Sarajevo. "I have informed their prime minister accordingly," he added.

Serbs Snagged on Prisoner Release
Bildt, the High Representative to Bosnia charged with overseeing civilian aspects of the Dayton peace treaty, had barred the Serbs from attending the conference in Brussels on Friday and Saturday for failing to release remaining prisoners of war. Bildt threatened to block crucial reconstruction money for all the former warring factions to force the release of remaining POWs. The factions were obliged to free all detainees or present dossiers on remaining POWs to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Officials in Bildt's office said 29 prisoners were being held as alleged war criminals by the factions. Some 200 prisoners had been freed since March 23, they added. Serb, Croat or Muslim-led government authorities must release the POWs if the tribunal decides there is insufficient evidence to hold the detainees as suspected war criminals.

The aid conference, organized by the European Union and the World Bank, will bring together experts and foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major industralized countries, the 15-nation EU, the Islamic world and Asia with the goal of raising $1.2 billion to add to the $600 million already pledged last December. Bildt said Serb compliance showed that taking a tough line had paid off and the POW issue had been broadly resolved. "It demonstrates the success of a rather firm approach," he added.

Bosnian Serb Leadership in Turmoil
"Although as you know in the process of taking this approach we have been subject to some rather vitriolic attacks (by the parties)... But they have complied and that is the essential thing." Bildt said the Bosnian Serb leadership appeared to be in "turmoil," sending out conflicting signals during negotiations on the POWs. "I'm sure we have not seen the end of that (turmoil)," he said.

Bildt said Bosnian Serb "president" Radovan Karadzic, an indicted war criminal who is required to step down from office under the Dayton pact, was pushing to retain influence in talks with international representatives. "He (Karadzic) is extremely keen not to be sidelined for reasons that are rather obvious. We are very keen to have him sidelined. That is the essence of the political battle going on."

Bildt, like other international envoys, said his office refuses to meet Karadzic. "Mr Karadzic is not the president of the Serb republic... according to the peace agreement and we would never have any dealings with him in any sort of way."



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