MOSTAR, Jan 9 (Hina) - The Defence Minister of the Croat-Muslim +Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miroslav Prce, on Saturday +described as inappropriate this morning's action of weapons +confiscation, carried out by the international
Stabilisation Force +on several Croatian Defence Council (HVO) locations.+ "We are surprised with SFOR's action to demonstrate force in such a +way", Prce told reporters in Mostar, southern BH.+ The appointment of high-ranking HVO officers without SFOR's +consent did not deserve such drastic measures and there is no need +for worsening the situation, Prce said commenting on an SFOR +ultimatum to HVO saying it would start destroying the confiscated +weapons if the Croat member of the BH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, did +not revoke his decision on appointing high-ranking HVO officers.+ The Croat side will continue to insist on the appointment of +generals Jelic and Siljeg in
MOSTAR, Jan 9 (Hina) - The Defence Minister of the Croat-Muslim
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miroslav Prce, on Saturday
described as inappropriate this morning's action of weapons
confiscation, carried out by the international Stabilisation Force
on several Croatian Defence Council (HVO) locations.
"We are surprised with SFOR's action to demonstrate force in such a
way", Prce told reporters in Mostar, southern BH.
The appointment of high-ranking HVO officers without SFOR's
consent did not deserve such drastic measures and there is no need
for worsening the situation, Prce said commenting on an SFOR
ultimatum to HVO saying it would start destroying the confiscated
weapons if the Croat member of the BH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, did
not revoke his decision on appointing high-ranking HVO officers.
The Croat side will continue to insist on the appointment of
generals Jelic and Siljeg in permanent talks with SFOR, Prce said.
SFOR had agreed to the appointment of Zlatan Mijo Jelic as commander
of the BH Federation Army First Guard Corps but as regards the
appointment of Zeljko Siljeg as deputy commander of the Federation
Army Joint Command, SFOR demanded Siljeg's written statement on
support for the implementation of the peace agreement.
Those statements were forwarded yesterday to SFOR, Prce said.
"This should have been a reason to continue the talks, not to carry
out an action and burst in such a way into the barracks and
warehouses", he said.
Talks with SFOR should continue, Prce said, stressing that it was
"impossible" to deprive Croats of the right to appoint officers,
within the Croatian component of the Federation Army, to the posts
they are competent for.
"If they (the officers) are on The Hague indictment lists, then we
should be told so explicitly", he added.
HVO soldiers will behave peacefully and await the results of the
talks with SFOR.
If the relations with SFOR deteriorate and if Siljeg's appointment
continues to be disputed, then that should be viewed in the context
of a war crime against Croats in the village of Grabovica, the
cancellation of re-broadcasting of Croatian Radio Television (HRT)
programmes in BH, and a set of other current issues with political
connotations, Prce concluded.
(hina) rml