SFOR INTRODUCES PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT RULES FOR BH GENERALS

SARAJEVO, Dec 8 (Hina) - The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) command requested defence ministries of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation and the Republika Srpska to make a list of the entities' army generals who wished to remain active in the military, SFOR 's spokeswoman Sheena Thompson said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The spokeswoman said that the request was relayed at the last joint military commission meeting at which newly established criteria for active military service were announced. The criteria would in the future apply to all generals in BH, Thompson added. She said that SFOR wished to have all senior military commanders follow professional military rules, and added that this primarily referred to the need to depoliticize armed forces and to the full support to the peace process. The rules are to be completed and submitted to SFOR before March 15, 1999. Thompson confirmed that all the regulations were subject to revision and final confirmation of the SFOR's chief commander. The SFOR command previously announced that general Montgomery Meigs would have the authority to confirm or refuse the appointment of any BH Federation or Republika Srpska's army general. According to Thompson, SFOR has no complaints as yet about any general assigned to such duties. The measures announced on Monday were aiming to secure a high level of professionalism and respect of the principles which apply to armies in western democratic states. (hina) it/lml