MOSTAR, Jan 2 (Hina) - The Bosnian Serb authorities have completed an investigation into and submitted to the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) a report on the aviation institute "Orao" from the northern town of Bijeljina, for which it has
been established that it delivered arms to Iraq, High Representative Paddy Ashdown confirmed on Thursday.
MOSTAR, Jan 2 (Hina) - The Bosnian Serb authorities have completed
an investigation into and submitted to the Stabilisation Force
(SFOR) a report on the aviation institute "Orao" from the northern
town of Bijeljina, for which it has been established that it
delivered arms to Iraq, High Representative Paddy Ashdown
confirmed on Thursday. #L#
Ashdown made the statement at a press conference in Prijedor, after
meeting Bosnian Serb officials.
The report was submitted to the SFOR commander, General William
Ward, Ashdown said, adding that today was the deadline for the
Bosnian Serb authorities to shed light on the violation of the UN
Security Council resolution banning the sale of arms to Iraq. The
High Representative declined to say which measures the
international community intended to take if the report proved
unsatisfactory. He explained that it would take several weeks to
analyse the document.
SFOR troops earlier this year carried out an inspection at the
Bijeljina institute and established that the institute serviced
parts of MIG-21 planes for Iraq. The scandal also involved the
Belgrade-based company Jugoimport which negotiated the deals.
Several institute officials and Republika Srpska military
officials were replaced after the scandal broke out.
(hina) rml