(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 move looks set to escalate in a political crisis - the previous premier, moderate Rajko Kasagic, has refused to step down and Western leaders are backing him.

The Bosnian Federation's vice-president has denounced the new appointment - pegging it as a move to undermine the Dayton agreement.

A late night meeting for the Bosnian Serb self-styled parliament.

The emergency meeting was called to confirm the appointment picked by Bosnain Serb leader Radovan Karadzic as the new prime minister.

It took the delegates two hours to decide - Gojko Klickovic, an economist known for his work with Serb war refugees, was given the new job, replacing Rajko Kasagic.

It's feared the new appointment could split Bosnian Serb territory in two.

Kasagic draws on support from the northwest region, which is led by a moderate faction based in Banja Luka.

They are opposed to the eastern section which would follow Karadzic and his extreme nationalists in Pale.

Only a small strip of land in the far north connects the two territories.

Bosnia's vice-president reacted angrily to Karadzic's new choice for prime minister, saying it endangered peace.

SOUNDBITE:
"Karadzic is opposing any implementation of (the) Dayton agreement. In that regard, he wants to keep around himself those who thinks the same way he does. International community is making serious mistake - to see the change in Serbian entity Karadzic has to be removed. So now there is an additional proof and reason to move quickly and remove Karadzic. Otherwise you will see more fascists around him who think the same way as he does."
SUPER CAPTION: Ejup Ganic, Vice-President Bosnian Federation

Trying to defuse the crisis, international mediator Carl Bildt arrived in Pale Saturday afternoon for another meeting with Bosnian Serb leaders.

The man charged with checking the implementation of the Dayton agreement met the speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament and the new Bosnian Serb prime minister.

The international community has been open in its support of the replaced premier - Kasagic supported peace and in return, he was backed by the West.

The sacking of Kasagic is seen as a setback and Bildt warned that no matter what - the Dayton agreement terms would have to be 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 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 was eager to emphasise his complete willingness 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

The speaker of the parliament was also quick to insisint the latest political move did not endanger peace.

Nevertheless - the split between Karadzic and Kasagic could spell disaster for the still-fragile peace in the region.

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