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17:14 GMT
SARAJEVO, July 22 (KUNA) -- A number of US House of Representatives'
members expressed Sunday overall support for Bosnia's independence and
sovereignty, as well as its reconstruction efforts and commitment to boost
peace in the Balkans.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Congressman Russ Carnahan said the
delegation currently visiting Bosnia consists of eight representatives from
foreign and defense committees.
The house, he noted, will discuss the Balkans' situation during its Fall
sessions and it will issue resolutions relevant to providing Bosnia will
overall US support.
The delegation is on a tour to Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and Croatia to
closely monitor current developments and needed tools to boost ties between
these nations and Washington that has invested a lot to re-instill peace and
democracy in this region, explained Carnahan.
Bosnia's Presidency Council and the delegation held an expanded meeting and
discussed regional security, reactions to Kosovo's independence, as well as
supporting Bosnia's constitutional reforms with US and Russian support.
In a press release, the council said the US legislators urged Bosnian
officials to go beyond ethnic and racial categorization in officials posts as
Bosnia needs to be built as a unified nation that does not hold any prejudice
against its citizens' races and faiths.
Fearing being dominated by the Muslim majority if a central government is
formed, most Serb and Croat officials in Bosnia insist on establishing their
independent entities.
The representatives supported Bosnia's joining of the NATO.
Other congresspersons in the delegation are: Melissa Bean, Carolyn Maloney,
Mike Ross, Stave Chabot, Jim Cooper, Ben Chandler and Jim McDermott. (end)
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