SARAJEVO, March 18 (Hina) - Only NATO troops are responsible for security in separation zones along border lines between the Croat- Moslem Federation and the Serb entity and the presence of armed troops from any side is not permitted,
Implementation Force representatives in Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Monday.
SARAJEVO, March 18 (Hina) - Only NATO troops are responsible for
security in separation zones along border lines between the Croat-
Moslem Federation and the Serb entity and the presence of armed
troops from any side is not permitted, Implementation Force
representatives in Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Monday. #L#
This was especially relevant for the situation in Sarajevo,
said IFOR representative Simon Haselock.
The main IFOR commander, Admiral Leighton Smith, forwarded a
letter to commanders of armed forces from all sides in Bosnia-
Herzegovina, reminding that all troops and weapons had to be
removed from the separation zones by midnight Monday.
The biggest problem at the moment was removing several
hundreds of Bosnian Army soldiers from the separation zone in
Sarajevo, Haselock said.
According to the peace agreement, the area stretches 2 km from
borderlines within the two entities in Bosnia. This means that most
of Sarajevo has to be demilitarized. The problem is that the
"Marshal Tito" barracks, the Bosnian Army headquarters and the
Bosnian Army First Corps Command are situated in that part of the
city.
Bosnian government representatives had requested that an
exception be made and that the military commands be enabled to
remain in Sarajevo. The request was refused by Smith.
"We have ways to make the Bosnian Army fulfill its duties,"
Haselock said, stressing that IFOR was ready to offer logistic help
with the evacuation of troops and weapons from the separation zone.
Haselock stressed that exceptions would not be made and NATO
troops would do everything to ensure total safety for Sarajevo and
its residents.
(hina) lm jn
181528 MET mar 96