HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CALLS ON PEACEFUL SOLVING OF BORDER DISPUTES

SARAJEVO, Dec 23 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative (OHR) for implementing the Dayton peace agreement endorsed an operation undertaken by NATO's peace Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia on Wednesday morning to remove Croatian police forces from the area of Martin Brod, southern Croatia/western Bosnia. According to an OHR statement, the operation was carried out because the Croatian police failed to comply with its promise to the HR to withdraw from the area. The HR was disappointed that such action was necessary, the statement added. The ORH stressed the HR asked the Croatian Government on three occasions to withdraw its police officers and that contentious issues be solved within an Croatian-Bosnian inter-state commission for borders. The HR received assurances in written form that the Croatian Police would retreat from the area. Unfortunately, the assurances had not been fulfilled, read the OHR statement. The OHR asserted that an already difficult situation got worse by certain statements, including a provocative interview given by the Croatian General Consul in Bihac. The HR expressed hope that similar misunderstandings would be solved through the inter-state commission for borders. (hina) it jn/ha