SARAJEVO, Dec 9 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) as a state should have a uniform army, but that is a long-term goal whose realisation will require a long time, the deputy commander for operations of NATO's Stabilisation Force (SFOR)
in BH, British General Michael Willcocks, told reporters in Sarajevo on Thursday. Speaking to the press after a meeting of the Joint Military Commission of BH, a body which under SFOR's supervision monitors the activities of the armies of Bosnia's two entities, Willcocks said there should be more of a common approach to security and military issues throughout BH. Willcocks said the final goal was a country with one army, but pointed out that in practical terms that goal still remained very distant. The British general believes a series of small steps can lead to the realisation of that goal, and one of them, he added, is the establishment of a joint military unit which, under BH i
SARAJEVO, Dec 9 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) as a state should
have a uniform army, but that is a long-term goal whose realisation
will require a long time, the deputy commander for operations of
NATO's Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in BH, British General Michael
Willcocks, told reporters in Sarajevo on Thursday.
Speaking to the press after a meeting of the Joint Military
Commission of BH, a body which under SFOR's supervision monitors
the activities of the armies of Bosnia's two entities, Willcocks
said there should be more of a common approach to security and
military issues throughout BH.
Willcocks said the final goal was a country with one army, but
pointed out that in practical terms that goal still remained very
distant.
The British general believes a series of small steps can lead to the
realisation of that goal, and one of them, he added, is the
establishment of a joint military unit which, under BH insignia,
would participate in UN peace operations around the world, by
offering logistic, engineering, and other support.
Willcocks confirmed measures were being taken for the
establishment of a joint military academy which would train local
military officers.
The general also confirmed that in keeping with an earlier decision
of the BH Presidency, military potentials in Bosnia's two entities
would be reduced by 15 percent by year's end.
The biggest step in that respect is the demilitarisation of the
district of Brcko in north-eastern BH, which envisages the
dissolution of seven military units and the annihilation of a
significant quantity of their weaponry, Willcocks said.
He pointed out the demilitarisation idea had not been imposed by the
SFOR, but was the result of agreement among all interested
parties.
The reduction of military potentials will remain an important task
in the course of next year as well, the general said, adding plans
include a further 15 percent reduction. The process, he pointed
out, will however depend on regional approach, namely the fact
whether Croatia or Yugoslavia will take part in it.
(hina) ha