MOSTAR, 18 March (Hina) - Pierre Bayle, spokesman for the Stabilization Force (SFOR) Multinational Division in Sector South- East, on Tuesday told a press conference in Mostar that SFOR has increased security measures on the Mostar
Bulevar road, with the aim of securing freedom of movement and general security of Mostar residents. The Bulevar road is the former front line and presently the separation line between the Croat and Muslim halves of the city.
MOSTAR, 18 March (Hina) - Pierre Bayle, spokesman for the
Stabilization Force (SFOR) Multinational Division in Sector South-
East, on Tuesday told a press conference in Mostar that SFOR has
increased security measures on the Mostar Bulevar road, with the
aim of securing freedom of movement and general security of Mostar
residents. The Bulevar road is the former front line and presently
the separation line between the Croat and Muslim halves of the
city. #L#
According to Bayle, Bulevar is the source of misunderstanding
in Mostar.
The head of the Mostar Regional Office of the High
International Representative in Bosnia, Martin Garrod, greeted the
latest control measures taken by the SFOR on the Bulevar road.
The road, Garrod said, has been problematic for two and a half
years because of the stoning of vehicles traveling along it and the
shooting on a nearby Franciscan monastery.
Incidents which happened in Mostar in the past two months have
worsened the situation in the city, Garrod said, adding that the
key problem is the establishment of a united police force.
Speaking about reasons which prompted him and the director of
the Mostar Regional Office of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Edward Joseph, to leave last
Saturday's ceremony organized on the occasion of the opening of the
Mostar Aluminium Plant, which was also attended by the Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman, Garrod said that he and Joseph had left
the ceremony because of inappropriate words of the plant's managing
director Mijo Brajkovic.
Speaking about the former European Union administration in
Mostar, Brajkovic had said that 'they experienced the destiny they
deserve', Garrod said.
The former European Union administrator of Mostar Hans
Koschnik was attacked on February 7, 1996 and he could have been
killed, Garrod said.
Garrod stressed that his and Joseph's departure from the
ceremony was not directed to the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
Tudjman had been invited to the ceremony and his visit had
been previously discussed with the government of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Garrod said.
Speaking about the destruction of a mosque minaret in
Stipanici near Tomislavgrad, Garrod described the incident as
serious and expressed hope that perpetrators would be brought to
justice .
The destruction of the minaret would not cause further similar
incidents, Garrod said.
(hina) rm jn
181633 MET mar 97