SARAJEVO, April 17 (Hina) - The latest developments in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina have not brought into question the existence and work of the Croat component of the Army of the Federation, and it is continuing to carry out
its tasks, a spokesman for the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia said on Tuesday. During a press conference, the spokesman, Andrew Coxhead, reiterated that SFOR gave full support to the incumbent federal defence minister Mijo Anic and a deputy commander of the federal army, Brigadier Ivica Zeko, as persons who represented the legal authorities. He added that SFOR condemned all attacks against members of the federal military and intimidation against those who remained loyal to the democratically elected (Croat) officials and legitimate bodies of authority. Major Coxhead emphasised that SFOR would help bring to justice all who were responsible for violence and breach of law. After the OSCE (
SARAJEVO, April 17 (Hina) - The latest developments in the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina have not brought into question
the existence and work of the Croat component of the Army of the
Federation, and it is continuing to carry out its tasks, a spokesman
for the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia said on
Tuesday.
During a press conference, the spokesman, Andrew Coxhead,
reiterated that SFOR gave full support to the incumbent federal
defence minister Mijo Anic and a deputy commander of the federal
army, Brigadier Ivica Zeko, as persons who represented the legal
authorities.
He added that SFOR condemned all attacks against members of the
federal military and intimidation against those who remained loyal
to the democratically elected (Croat) officials and legitimate
bodies of authority.
Major Coxhead emphasised that SFOR would help bring to justice all
who were responsible for violence and breach of law.
After the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe) changed the electoral rules for last November's election in
Bosnia, a leading Croat political party - HDZ BiH - decided to
boycott the establishment of new authorities, and the Croat
National Congress, led by the HDZ, declared the self-rule in the
Croat populated areas of the Federation. The international
community labels the self-rule as illegal parallel bodies of
authority, while the HDZ has called on Croat soldiers and officers
to disobey the new defence minister and commanders and withdraw
from the federal army. This has created a very tense situation in
some army camps.
SFOR will continue supervising all arms depots in Bosnia and the
presence of peace troops on the ground will be heightened in the
coming days, Coxhead added.
SFOR command has warned that all who are planning to take the
weapons from the depots or barracks should take into consideration
that SFOR will prevent such actions in accordance with its
mandate.
(hina) ms