SFOR CONTINUES TO PATROL MARTIN BROD

SARAJEVO, Dec 11 (Hina) - Members of Stabilisation Force (SFOR) are continuing routine patrols in the Martin Brod area (on the border between south Croatia and west Bosnia-Herzegovina), but the border issue remains under the jurisdiction of local police forces, SFOR spokeswoman in Sarajevo, Sheena Thompson, said on Friday. SFOR has no information about an increase in the presence of local police, including Croatian police, in the area, she added. Deputy High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Simon Haselock stressed the international community insisted on a respect of borders has had been established between the two states during the time of the former Yugoslavia. Out stance on the issue is clear. martin Brod is a part of the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haselock said. Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Border Commission Mugdim Cukle, was cited by Sarajevo media as saying that he had not brought into question the meeting with the Croatian commission scheduled in Zagreb for December 14. Cukle stressed the Bosnian side insisted on the fact that Croatia has violated another country's border in Martin Brod, which is why Zagreb's request for the current border situation to be maintained until the whole border issue is resolved could not be accepted. The priority, according to him, is the resolution of the situation in Martin Brod, that is, the withdrawal of the Croatian police from the area, and only then can other moot issues be agreed on. (hina) lml