NATO WILL NOT PROTECT GRAVE SITES IN BOSNIA, ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS

SARAJEVO, Jan 21 (Hina) - Chief commander of IFOR troops in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Admiral Leighton Smith, said that NATO would not continually control and protect suspected mass graves areas. #L# A statement released today from Admiral Smith's headquarters in Sarajevo said that IFOR would do their best to protect investigators at alleged mass graves around Bosnia. This did not mean that NATO soldiers would protect every grave or every individual who wanted to visit those sites, the statement said, adding however that each request for support in mass grave investigation would be considered and answered depending on current circumstances. The IFOR commander said he understood the depth of the problem, but did not want to give promises he could not fulfill. So far, IFOR soldiers had been told to immediately inform their headquarters in case they noticed that someone was trying to destroy evidence of mass graves. NATO airplanes, which are assisting IFOR in Bosnia- Herzegovina, have started patrolling the sites with mass graves, in order to warn IFOR to act if necessary. (hina) rm 211407 MET jan 96