SARAJEVO, April 27 (Hina) - Main IFOR commander in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Admiral Leighton Smith, high representative for the implementation of the Dayton peace accords, Carl Bildt, and the commissioner of the International Police
Force, Peter Fitzgerald, asked civilian authorities in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Republika Srpska to respect duties set by the Dayton Agreement which would enable the return of refugees and full freedom of movement.
SARAJEVO, April 27 (Hina) - Main IFOR commander in Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Admiral Leighton Smith, high representative for the
implementation of the Dayton peace accords, Carl Bildt, and the
commissioner of the International Police Force, Peter Fitzgerald,
asked civilian authorities in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina
and Republika Srpska to respect duties set by the Dayton Agreement
which would enable the return of refugees and full freedom of
movement. #L#
The highest officials of the international community in
Bosnia-Herzegovina fully supported UNHCR's efforts as regards the
return of refugees, a statement from IFOR main headquarters said on
Saturday.
Civilian authorities in both entities are asked to cease all
actions which induce conflicts among civilians.
The cause of the warnings are incidents which had happened
during the past few days between refugees who went to visit their
homes in several places in Bosnia and the local residents, as well
as announcements of new attempts of refugees to return to their
homes.
Smith last week forwarded a letter to the president of Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, president of the Bosnian
Federation, Kresimir Zubak, and to the head of the Parliament of
Bosnian Serbs, Momcilo Krajisnik.
In his letter, Smith said that conflicts among civilians were
very well organized and the police stood aside while IFOR troops
were forced to settle the situation.
He warned highest Bosnian officials that such conflicts were
their problem and if they acted otherwise, that would mean a
violation of the Dayton peace accords.
IFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Bryan Hoye, on Saturday confirmed
that UNHCH had informed IFOR that a number of groups of refugees
were planning to cross over to the other entity on Sunday.
Bosnian Serb forces commander, Ratko Mladic, on Wednesday
forwarded a letter to the IFOR main headquarters, threatening that
his troops would act forcefully if NATO did not prevent Bosniac
attempts to cross over to the Serb entity. He also threatened that
IFOR troops would not be safe in such a case.
"We have received the letter, but its contents need no
comment. Mladic has been indicted of war crimes and we do not
communicate with him," IFOR spokesman, Max Marriner said.
According to announcements of Bosnian media, groups of
refugees will attempt to cross the border between entities at 8 or
9 different places on Sunday.
(hina) lm jn
271354 MET apr 96