SFOR ORDERS REDUCTION OF ARMS DEPOTS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

( Editorial: --> 2544 ) SARAJEVO, Feb 17 (Hina) - The armies of Republika Srpska and the Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina will in this year have to reduce their number of arms depots so that control over their use could be facilitated. Stabilisation Force (SFOR) spokesman in Sarajevo Louis Garneau stated on Tuesday that commanders of the two entities' armies were informed yesterday about this decision. All the weapons the two armies have are stored at 800 locations, which are regularly checked by SFOR members. That number will have to be reduced by a quarter by the end of this year, Garneau said. This would facilitate control over arms depots and the counting of weapons and equipment by NATO members, he added. The sides in Bosnia-Herzegovina will also have to provide separate storage for heavy weaponry and ammunition for heavy weaponry. The question of joint registration plates for all military vehicles has also been opened, Garneau said, adding it was decided that joint registration plates would be put on all military vehicles by 1 May. Commenting on the replacement of the Bosnian Serb army's Chief Of Staff, the SFOR spokesman described it as an internal issue of Republika Srpska, adding NATO would cooperate with the new Chief Of Staff Momir Talic the same way it had cooperated with the former Chief Of Staff Pero Colic. (hina) mm rm 171423 MET feb 98