SFOR'S OPERATION IN MOSTAR BANK WITHOUT INCIDENTS - INT. REPS.

SARAJEVO, April 18 (Hina) - Following a request by the Office of the High Representative (OHR), NATO's peacekeepers in Bosnia, the SFOR, on Tuesday evening carried out a successful operation in Hercegovacka Banka in the southern town of Mostar, international representatives said in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The Mostar operation was intended to ensure access to the bank's documentation which the replaced management board refused to hand over to emergency administrator Toby Robinson, Deputy High Representative Ralph Johnson told reporters. He said the OHR had for some time suspected that Hercegovacka Banka was being used for illegal transactions and as support to the activity of illegal institutions. The Mostar operation was necessary to help the emergency administrator gain full insight into the bank's business, which is a prerequisite for its consolidation, said Johnson. He explained the requested documents were contained in the bank's safe-deposit box. Given the management's refusal to cooperate, the SFOR (Stabilisation Force) had to use explosive to gain access to the safe-deposit box, said Johnson. SFOR spokesman Lt. Col. Ian Mackenzie confirmed there were no incidents during the operation. This time the SFOR forces were much stronger than on April 6, when the first attempt was made to gain access into the bank. The higher number of soldiers was a clear signal to those who previously caused trouble that this time no such conduct would be allowed, he said. Asked about the possibility of further operations the international community in Bosnia might launch against the so- called Croat self-rule, Johnson said the inspection of Hercegovacka Banka's transactions must not be considered an isolated case. He announced other measures aimed at eliminating parallel and illegal structures of authority. (hina) ha sb