(8 Nov 1997) English/Nat

Under intense international pressure, Serbs, Muslims and Croats came together on Friday to form a joint city council in Brcko.

There was fear of violence as the council met for its first constituting session - Brcko is a town with immense strategic importance to all three of Bosnia's rival ethnic groups.

Muslim and Croat representatives arrived under Serb and U-N police escort - but there were no incidents.

The town of Brcko, on the northeastern tip of Bosnia, is claimed both by Bosnian Serbs, who control half of the republic, and the coalition formed between Muslims and Croats that makes up the other half of the federation.

It is the only town whose status was left unresolved by the 1995 peace accord that ended the war after more than three and a half years.

Brcko sits astride a narrow land corridor that links Serb holdings in eastern and western Bosnia.

But it is also a key port on the Sava river which would give Muslims and Croats access to European waterways and markets.

The Serbs, who captured Brcko at the outset of the war, now have provisional control.

But a final decision on the town, now administered by an international supervisor, is not expected until March.

The American Robert W. Farrand was appointed supervisor this spring to oversee the implementation of the peace accord on return of refugees and other provisions.

In September, Serb parties gained 30 council seats in the municipal elections, while parties from the Muslim-Croat federation won 26 seats.

Farrand subsequently issued orders to form a council corresponding to election results and allot key police and judicial position equitably among Serbs, Muslims and Croats.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The purpose of the meeting this morning is to constitute the assembly under the new rules that are being worked here in this city, to bring about a democratic government, to enhance a democratic government and, most importantly, to bring about a multi-ethnic administration."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Farrand, International Supervisor

Representatives of Serb parties opposed formation of the joint council, but gave up resistance after Farrand reminded them of his total authority.

Only two percent of Brcko's present population of about 30-thousand is non-Serb.

But Muslims and Croats made up the majority before the war.

About one thousand refugees - most of them Muslims - have been allowed to return to their prewar homes in suburban areas of Brcko.

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