(18 May 1996) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat

Carl Bildt has been meeting Bosnian Serb leaders following the appointment of a new prime minister by Bosnian Radovan Karadzic

The previous premier, moderate Rajko Kasagic, has refused to step down and Western leaders are backing him.

Nevertheless, Karadzic appointed Gojko Klickovic, an economist known for his work with Serb war refugees as the new prime minister.

It was the latest in a series of meetings for international mediator Carl Bildt.

Charged with seeing the implementation of the Dayton agreement through, he travelled to Pale to prevent what could become another threat to peace.

Bildt met the speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament to discuss the appointment of a new Bosnian Serb prime minister.

Gojko Klickovic was appointed by Radovan Karadic to replace moderate Rajko Kasagic.

The latter has been supportive of the Dayton agreement and in return, the West has been supportive of him.

Although his sacking is a setback, Bildt said that he didn't care who was in charge - he said he was only concerned about the Dayton agreement terms being met.

SOUNDBITE:
"I'm here to implement the full implementation of the peace agreement. That's not primarily a question of personalities - it's a question of policy line - although of course there are personalities that more or less clearly are supporting that particular policy line - but primarily there of course it's a question of policy with implications of a wide range."
SUPER CAPTION: Carl Bildt, High Representative for Bosnia

The new Prime Minister, Gojko Klickovic, has said he is completely willing to carry on with the Dayton agreement's implementation.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat with English translation)
"Today at this meeting with Mr Bildt we were able to assess that there will be no changes. And that we shall fully implement all provisions of the Dayton agreement but at the same time we shall ask the other side to do the same thing."
SUPER CAPTION: Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic

He also told the press that his predecessor wouldn't have to worry about his future.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat with English translation)
"Nothing should happen to him - we are a democratic government - and because of the differences one shouldn't be condemned and he will continue working."
SUPER CAPTION: Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic

The speaker of the parliament insisted the latest political move did not endanger peace.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat with English translation)
"As for the implementation of the Dayton agreement there shouldn't be any differences . According to the platform of the government and the assembly, Mr Klickovic is obliged to work on the implementation on the Dayton agreement. The problem didn't arise in the implementation of the Dayton agreement but the problems arose from the misuse of the implementation of the Dayton agreement."
SUPER CAPTION: Bosnian Serb assembly president Momcilo Krajisnik

The split between Karadzic and Kasagic threatens to split Bosnian Serb territory, with the eastern part of remaining under the rule of Karadzic and his extreme nationalists in Pale and the northwest under control of a moderate faction based in Banja Luka.

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