MOSTAR/BANJA LUKA, March 17 (Hina) - The Office of Republika Srpska President Dragan Cavic on Monday presented the commander of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), US General William Ward, with a final report on the export of weapons and
military equipment to Iraq.
MOSTAR/BANJA LUKA, March 17 (Hina) - The Office of Republika Srpska
President Dragan Cavic on Monday presented the commander of the
Stabilisation Force (SFOR), US General William Ward, with a final
report on the export of weapons and military equipment to Iraq. #L#
Monday was the final deadline for the report to be handed over.
The report, compiled by the Bosnian Serb president's office and the
army headquarters, was first adopted by the entity's Supreme
Defence Council.
Bosnian Serb authorities last autumn denied that arms were being
exported from Bjeljina's "Eagle" aviation institute to Iraq.
These denials angered international representatives and the SFOR,
who threatened severe punishment if the affair was not
investigated.
The final report on the scandal will be inspected by the Peace
Implementation Council, a spokesman for the Office of the High
Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mario Brkic, told Hina.
After that it will be known whether sanctions will result, Brkic
said.
According to newspaper headlines, High Representative Paddy
Ashdown could replace the current chair of the state presidency,
Mirko Sarovic, due to the scandal. Before taking this post, Sarovic
was the president of the Bijeljina military company. At the time the
institute is believed to have exported weapons to Iraq, Sarovic was
the president of Republika Srpska.
Last week the prosecution in Bjeljina issued an indictment against
the Bosnian Serb army chief-of-staff, General Momir Zec, and 16
other officials who are charged with covering up the illegal arms
trade with Iraq.
(hina) sp rml sb