960418

Gulf states contribute

to Bosnian arms,

equip programme

WASHINGTON: Gulf Arab states have contributed $100 million in cash to an international fund to arm and train the Bosnian-Croat federation, a US State Department official said Wednesday. A US delegation led by White House aide Thomas "Mack" McClarty collected the donations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait during a trip to to the Middle East April 14-15, State Department official James Pardew said.

"The success of the mission will enable the training element of the train and equip program to move ahead in a timely manner," Pardew said.

The money comes on top of $100 million in military equipment contributed by the United States and $ four million pledged by Turkey at a recent donors' meeting in Ankara.

But it falls short of the $800 million that was estimated to be needed for the program, which is aimed at strengthening the Bosnian-Croat federa tion forces versus their Bosnian Serb rivals.

Despite the new money, the program will not go forward until the United Sta tes is satisfied that all foreign fighters have left the country, a State Department official said, speaking on background.-AFP