The statement came as Chen Xu, representative of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations, took the floor at an open U.N. Security Council meeting on Bosnia.

"We have always believed that the comprehensive and thorough settlement of the question of Bosnia depends ultimately on the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves," he said.

"When participating in the reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the international community must adhere to the principle of giving priority role to the people themselves there, respect the will and choice of the people there, and focus its work on helping the local people realize self-government and self-reliance and gradually reduce their dependence on foreign aid," he said.

"Otherwise, once the international assistance is reduced, all kinds of social and economic problems will arise again," he said.

"The realization of the national reconciliation is the fundamental guarantee for the peoples of Bosnia to enjoy their life and peaceful coexistence," he said.

"There is a long way to go before this goal can be achieved," he said. "There still exists radical and extreme elements in all the parties, the international community, including the United Nations, needs to make greater efforts in promoting the national reconciliation among all ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina so as to ultimately build a unified, democratic and economically self-dependent Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.

Meanwhile, Chen voiced his appreciation of "the important contribution" by the U.N. Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and the International Police Task Force to promoting the positive development in the former Yugoslav republic.

"We welcome the good progress made by the U.N. Mission in reforming and training police there and the efforts to strengthen the legal institutions there," he said.

"But, the recruitment of police from minorities is still not satisfactory, and it is our hope that the UNMIBH will continue its efforts in this regard," he said.

"We are satisfied with the stability in the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the implementation of the Dayton peace accord, signed in 1995 to end the bloody Bosnian war,” he said.

"This can be attributed to the political will and cooperation demonstrated by all ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.

"However, it should be realized that the progress is far slower than what the international community had expected in implementing the peace accord," he added.

(People's Daily 08/16/2000)