SARAJEVO, 23 June (Hina) - NATO secretary general Javier Solana and the High Representative for the implementation of Bosnia peace agreement, Carlos Westendorp, on Monday stated that they would continue to decisively implement the
Dayton regulations, which are aimed at strengthening the peace in the country. However, Solana and Westendorp ruled out the possibility of NATO hunting war criminals.
SARAJEVO, 23 June (Hina) - NATO secretary general Javier Solana and the
High Representative for the implementation of Bosnia peace agreement,
Carlos Westendorp, on Monday stated that they would continue to
decisively implement the Dayton regulations, which are aimed at
strengthening the peace in the country. However, Solana and Westendorp
ruled out the possibility of NATO hunting war criminals. #L#
After today's meeting with the officials of international
organisations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was held in Sarajevo, Solana
told reporters that he had given assurances to Westendorp that during
his mission in Bosnia he would have all the support of the Stabilisation
Force (SFOR).
Westendorp said that the basic priorities of his new mission are
the organisation of the donors' conference on assistance to Bosnia, the
solution of the problem of the return of refugees and the reorganisation
of police forces.
Solana also said that NATO's policy concerning the arrest of war
criminals remains unchanged. The apprehension of war criminals is not
NATO's task but the task of those who signed the peace agreement, he
said.
Westendorp supported NATO's policy, but warned that without the
apprehension of war criminals it would be very difficult to find a
solution to the problems the country is being faced with currently.
Solana said that he would continue to insist on the opening of
airports in Bosnia for civil transport.
It is a great pity that this matter has not been agreed on, but
petty politics prevents the conclusion of this very important agreement,
Solana said.
During his meeting with the officials in Bosnia's Council of
Ministers, Solana failed to get signatures on the text of a memorandum
on handing-over airports in Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla to civil
authorities because the Bosnian Serbs refused to accept joint state
administration for civil aviation, demanding that Banja Luka airport be
run exclusively by the local authorities.
(hina) rm jn
231636 MET jun 97