SARAJEVO, Sept 18 (Hina) - A special NATO expert team has arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina Tuesday to discuss conditions that have to be fulfilled in order for Bosnia to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP). Stabilisation Force
spokesman in Sarajevo Daryl Morell said the NATO team, led by George Katsirdakis, head of NATO's cooperation in defence board, will meet with members of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency in the next few days, as well as representatives of both entities, the Bosnian Serb entity and the Croat-Muslim Federation. The team's mission is to clear up the details of NATO Secretary-General George Robertson's initiative, put forward during his July visit to Bosnia, for forming a federal Defence Ministry and a joint army. The Muslim-Croat Federation officials expressed their readiness for such an effort at the time, but the Bosnian Serb authorities decidedly refused such a possibility. In the meantime, the highest Bosnia
SARAJEVO, Sept 18 (Hina) - A special NATO expert team has arrived in
Bosnia and Herzegovina Tuesday to discuss conditions that have to
be fulfilled in order for Bosnia to join the Partnership for Peace
(PfP).
Stabilisation Force spokesman in Sarajevo Daryl Morell said the
NATO team, led by George Katsirdakis, head of NATO's cooperation in
defence board, will meet with members of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Presidency in the next few days, as well as representatives of both
entities, the Bosnian Serb entity and the Croat-Muslim
Federation.
The team's mission is to clear up the details of NATO Secretary-
General George Robertson's initiative, put forward during his July
visit to Bosnia, for forming a federal Defence Ministry and a joint
army.
The Muslim-Croat Federation officials expressed their readiness
for such an effort at the time, but the Bosnian Serb authorities
decidedly refused such a possibility.
In the meantime, the highest Bosnian Serb military and civilian
authorities held closed-door talks with the representatives of
Yugoslav Army Headquarters and Yugoslav Defence Ministry.
In the joint press statement issued after the meeting, both sides
gave their general support to the idea of Bosnia joining the PfP,
but only if separate armies and defence ministries are kept.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia are the only two countries in
the region who are not yet members of the PfP.
The Yugoslav Defence Council concluded at last week's meeting in
Podgorica that the question of joining PfP will not be dealt with
until Serbia and Montenegro have resolved the question of their
status regarding the Yugoslav federation.
(hina) js