SARAJEVO, Dec 23 (Hina) - A spokesman for NATO's Stabilisation +Force (SFOR) on Wednesday told Hina the situation in the Martin Brod +area was peaceful after the departure of Croatian policemen and +that the area was fully supervised
by local Bosnian Federation +police.+ SFOR spokesman in Sarajevo Glenn Chamberlain said the Croatian +policemen's departure had proceeded without any incidents. They +peacefully complied with SFOR's Monday morning demand to leave +Martin Brod, a contentious town on the southern Croatian-western +Bosnian border.+ Chamberlain said the policemen had only requested a little time for +consultations with their commanders, who granted permission for +them to leave the area and ensured transport.+ The number of Croatian policemen in the area had not been large +anyway, the spokesman said. After their departure, tension had not +increased, nor had there been any military or police reinforcement
SARAJEVO, Dec 23 (Hina) - A spokesman for NATO's Stabilisation
Force (SFOR) on Wednesday told Hina the situation in the Martin Brod
area was peaceful after the departure of Croatian policemen and
that the area was fully supervised by local Bosnian Federation
police.
SFOR spokesman in Sarajevo Glenn Chamberlain said the Croatian
policemen's departure had proceeded without any incidents. They
peacefully complied with SFOR's Monday morning demand to leave
Martin Brod, a contentious town on the southern Croatian-western
Bosnian border.
Chamberlain said the policemen had only requested a little time for
consultations with their commanders, who granted permission for
them to leave the area and ensured transport.
The number of Croatian policemen in the area had not been large
anyway, the spokesman said. After their departure, tension had not
increased, nor had there been any military or police reinforcement
in the area, he added.
Chamberlain said the full responsibility for the situation had been
taken by Bosnian Federation police. They would be the ones to decide
how many policemen would be deployed on the field, he added, but
pointed out this did not mean the SFOR would not be there.
SFOR's Canadian soldiers supervising the Martin Brod area have to
date not had a permanent station there nor will they have one in the
future. They will however continue with regular patrols and all
measures necessary to maintain peace and stability.
Chamberlain said SFOR's aim was to ensure full peace and security to
all returnees to Martin Brod.
Asked to comment on Croatia's first reactions to this morning's
operation, Chamberlain reminded the whole operation had been
undertaken at the request of the Office of the High Representative
(OHR) for Bosnia.
The OHR requested it because it believes Martin Brod is Bosnian
territory, the SFOR spokesman said, pointing out it was completely
unacceptable for official representatives of another country to
stay there.
Earlier today, the Croatian Defence and National Security Council
assessed SFOR's action as one-sided and hasty and that, at a time of
diplomatic talks on certain issues, its negative effect might be
incalculable.
Croatia and Bosnia have recently established a joint commission for
solving all open border questions, including Martin Brod.
(hina) ha jn