GENERAL RON ADAMS TAKES OVER OFFICE OF SFOR COMMANDER

SARAJEVO, Oct 18 (Hina) - US General Ron Adams on Monday took over the office of the commander of the international Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina from General Montgomery Meigs, who had held the office for the past year. As of today, Gen. Meigs is again the commander of US troops in Europe with the headquarters in Heidelberg. Gen. Adams, who is the sixth commander of the Bosnia peace force, said the SFOR would continue with its determined engagement the aim of which was to maintain full security in the country and help in the further implementation of the Dayton agreement, including the return of refugees. The office the new SFOR commander had held prior to his latest appointment was that of deputy commander of allied ground forces in Europe. He fought in Vietnam and participated in the operation "Desert Storm", however, he is the first commander of the international force in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the rank of a general with three stars. All previous commanders were US generals or admirals with four stars. Answering a reporter's question, General Wesley Clark said this fact was in line with plans regarding the reduction of military forces in Bosnia. However, he added the latest change did not mean changes in the SFOR mandate, the arrest of war crimes suspects included. (hina) jn rml