New York, 25 September 1997 (RFE/RL) - U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says the international community and the Bosnia government now have an obligation to carry out the will of Bosnians expressed in the recent municipal elections.
She said that means rapidly installing new local governments, sharing power equitably and creating conditions for newly elected officials to function safely.
Albright made the statement to the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain and Russia -- the Bosnia contact group -- which met in New York yesterday.
She said that any attempt to restrict the functioning of municipal authorities will be met swiftly with sanctions.
Albright also said the U.S. is deeply concerned with the problem of corruption in Bosnia and a reluctance among some to restructure police forces. She said clashes among police units this week underscore the need to move ahead rapidly in this area in Serb-controlled Republika Srpska as well as in other parts of Bosnia.