Merkel in Bosnia,Backs Economic Reform

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Sarajevo, the last stop of her Balkan tour that included Albania and Serbia. All three countries are aspiring for European Union membership.

Merkel is meeting Bosnian leaders Thursday to urge them to launch social and economic reforms that would create jobs and speed up the EU membership process. Although the country's Muslim Bosnian, Serb and Croat leaders signed a joint declaration in January expressing readiness to implement all EU reforms proposed by Germany and Britain, the Bosnian Serbs revoked their commitment in June.

Merkel is also expected to pay tribute to victims of Bosnia's 1995 Srebrenica massacre ahead of the July 11 ceremony marking two decades since the worst carnage in Europe after World War II.

(KA)