SFOR SEEKS ANNULMENT OF DECISIONS ON APPOINTMENTS OF OFFICERS

SARAJEVO, January 8 (Hina) - The Command of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday sought immediate annulment of the decision on the appointment of new Croat generals to senior posts in the Army of the Moslem-Croat Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as made by the Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency, Ante Jelavic. According to the decision, Lieutenant General Zeljko Siljeg was appointed deputy commander of the Bosnian Federation Army, and Major General Zlatan Mijo Jelic as commander of the 1st guard corps. Five other officers have been promoted. SFOR is seeking the annulment of the decision on the appointment of generals of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and a suspension of the appointments until the process is carried out in line with proper procedures, SFOR spokeswoman in Sarajevo, Sheena Thompson, told Hina on Friday. She recalled that the International High Representative for the country and the SFOR commander had in October of 1998 established that all generals of the two Bosnian entities' armed forces must receive consent from the currently authorised US General Montgomery Meigs in order to be appointed to command posts. This decision is the result of an assessment that armed forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina had in the past been subject to the influence of ruling parties, making the status of officers conditional upon their loyalty to an individual of ruling political structures instead of upon their professional ability or financial and political independence. According to Sheena Thompson, the failure to observe decisions by the SFOR commander would mean a violation of the Dayton Agreement. In case this should happen, the Stabilisation Force will undertake measures necessary to ensure the implementation of the Agreement's military section, she stressed. (hina) lml mm