SARAJEVO, 26 March (Hina) - Michael Steiner, deputy to the High International Representative in Bosnia, on Wednesday asked that urgent measures be taken with the aim to improve the security situation in the Neretva River Canton,
especially in Mostar.
SARAJEVO, 26 March (Hina) - Michael Steiner, deputy to the High
International Representative in Bosnia, on Wednesday asked that urgent
measures be taken with the aim to improve the security situation in the
Neretva River Canton, especially in Mostar. #L#
In a letter sent to the president and vice president of the Federation
of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vladimir Soljic and Ejup Ganic respectively, Steiner
stated that the situation in Mostar has improved mainly thanks to the
pressure by the international community. Police authorities in both parts of
the city have not reacted properly to cases in which the victims were
members of minority ethnic groups, Steiner said.
Steiner asked that united police forces in the Neretva River Canton be
established as soon as possible. Until their establishment, police officers
from eastern and western parts of the city are obliged to participate in
joint Mostar police forces.
Bildt's deputy said that the 'lying policemen', set by eastern Mostar
authorities on the Bulevar road, a former separation line, posed a threat to
the safety of people and an obstacle to freedom of movement. Those obstacles
should be removed from the road by 29 March, Steiner said in the letter.
The German diplomat also asked that the remaining administrative
structure of municipal authority in Mostar be established as soon as
possible, in line with measures agreed on at the 3 February meeting of the
Forum of the Federation.
The media were asked to stop publishing inflammatory statements and
local officials were asked to make joint appearances in public.
Steiner also reiterated that persons responsible for 10 February
incidents in Mostar should be punished, which included the punishment of
suspected police officers. Bildt's deputy said that police officials who
failed to abide by these requests would be forbidden to travel to western
countries.
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