BOSNIAKS DON'T COMPLY WITH MARTIN BROD AGREEMENT - SFOR OFFICIAL

SARAJEVO, Dec 31 (Hina) - The chief commander of NATO's peace- keeping Stabilisation Force in Bosnia said the Bosnian Moslem side had not complied with an agreement between Croatia and Bosnia's Croat-Moslem Federation to withdraw police from Martin Brod, a contentious area on the Croatian-Bosnian border. General Montgomery Meigs told Sarajevo daily paper "Dnevni Avaz" of Thursday that SFOR soldiers had intervened in Martin Brod last week at a request of the international High Representative (HR) for Bosnia. He pointed out an agreement had subsequently been reached between the Croatian and Federal governments, with mediation from the Office of the HR, to withdraw all policemen from the area, and to have the area temporarily patrolled by the United Nations' International Police Task Force (IPTF). Croats had complied with the agreement up to Monday evening, but the Bosnian Moslems had not, Meigs said. He was unable to confirm whether the IPTF had already introduced patrols in Martin Brod, expected to assist the work of a Croatian- Bosnian state commission for borders. Asked how long SFOR's soldiers would stay in Martin Brod, General Meigs said his forces would always go where it was necessary and stay as long as it was necessary. Commenting on Croatian statements with regard to the Martin Brod issue, General Meigs said too many words were usually used in this part of the world, adding the SFOR was not paying too much attention to this. Responding to a question about a possible reduction of military potential in Bosnia, the SFOR commander said it was scandalous so much money was spent on the army in a country whose economy was so devastated. He believed something could be done through a regional stabilisation programme and activities of the international community. (hina) ha