HIS AND SNS ORGANISED ILLEGAL OPERATIONS IN BH - SFOR (EXTENDED)

SARAJEVO, Dec 17 (Hina) - Members of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina discovered evidence on illegal activities of the Croatian intelligence service (HIS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as Bosnia-Hercegovina secret service called National Security Service (SNS), SFOR deputy main commander Charles Henry de Monchy said on Friday. At a press conference held in Sarajevo General de Monchy said that evidence of anti-Dayton activities of the two secret services were discovered in an operation conducted on October 14 in the southern Bosnia-Herzegovina town of Mostar, under the code name of "Westar". SFOR members had searched four buildings in the west part of the town, including the building of the "Erotel" television. Information which confirm that the HIS was involved in secret operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and that the SNS organised the tapping of senior officials of international organisations active in the country was discovered in confiscated material and data saved in computers. General de Monchy said that members of the SFOR discovered not- registered weapons and ammunition, adding, however, that more significant was evidence on operations of the HIS in Bosnia- Herzegovina and documentation according to which the SNS, in four different operations, planned the surveillance of officials of the Office of the High Representative, the SFOR, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the UNHCR and other organisations. It was also discovered that Croats employed in those international organisations were a particular target. The SNS tried to recruit them and force them to spy on their employers. General de Monchy said there was also evidence of criminal activities of the SNS officials, particularly regarding the making of forged credit cards, bank cards and phone cards, as well as gathering and distributing pornography material. Reporters in Sarajevo were shown the machines for forging credit and bank cards and a part of confiscated pirate CDs and documentation. Information on four secret operations, initiated or conducted by the SNS until September 1999, were discovered in data saved in computers which were confiscated in west Mostar. De Monchy stressed that the operation demonstrated clear violation of the existing constitutions and laws, as well as the Dayton Agreement. When asked to comment on the legal status of the SNS, the SFOR official said the SNS was a legal service, adding, however, that its activities in this cases were completely illegal. I would like to stress that the SFOR operation in Mostar was not directed against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina in any way. Its aim was the SNS whose activities were against the interests of citizens of this country, the Dayton, and against the building of peace that the international community tried to establish, de Monchy said. Particularly insulting de Monchy found claims emphasised in SNS documents, reading that international community officials are spies of their countries. This is how the SNS tried to explain the necessity for their surveillance. According to the French general, the evidence shown to the reports were only 10 percent of all confiscated material. General de Monchy said he expected the Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities to start court processes which would aim at the establishment of a concrete responsibility of persons behind those illegal activities, and added that the SFOR was ready to ensure funds for those processes. (hina) it mm