SFOR CONTROLS FIVE BOSNIAN SERB TRANSMITTERS

SARAJEVO, Oct 19 (Hina) - The office of the international High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Saturday afternoon that sabotage caused problems in broadcasting television and radio programme prepared by the Bosnian Serb television centre in Banja Luka, loyal to the Bosnian Serb entity's president, Biljana Plavsic. Westendorp's office said that NATO-led SFOR troops checked technically the transmitter on Veliki Zep near Han Pijesak on Mount Romanija, eastern Bosnia. During the inspection NATO forces found out that some not allowed changes had been done and some vital parts of the transmitter removed. This act of sabotage completely jammed the signal of the SRT (Serb Radio and Television). The television screens went blank as a result of such reckless vandal conduct, said the statement, published in Sarajevo on Saturday afternoon. In the statement the Office of the International Representative severely condemned such an act. There is still no explanation whether authorities loyal to Bosnian Serb leaders at Pale disturbed the broadcasting of Banja Luka television programmes via the Veliki Zep transmitter and whether on Friday they had made pirate broadcasts on the frequency of the Banja Luka-based television centre. Taking over Veliki Zep transmitter, located near the military headquarters of Bosnian Serb army, NATO-led Stabilisation Force members assumed control over the five key radio and television relay stations in the Serb entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Other four transmitters that were put under the NATO control last week in line with an order of the International Representative's Office, are Trebevic, Leotar, Udrigovo and Duge Njive. The NATO-led SFOR took control over them in order to prevent the broadcast of inflammatory messages directed against the spirit and letter and of the Dayton peace process. (hina) mš 191048 MET oct 97