TOP NATO OFFICIALS VISIT IFOR TROOPS IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA

TUZLA, July 25 (Hina) - NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and NATO commander in Europe General George Joulwan visited IFOR troops in northeastern Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday and met for talks with the commander of the IFOR's Sector North and the commander of a Russian IFOR Brigade in the Sector. They also held a brief meeting with representatives of organizations overseeing the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton peace agreement. Solana said he was pleased with reports from the area and praised the cooperation of civilian and military personnel in implementing the agreement. He added that he was also satisfied with the cooperation between Russian and American troops. Joulwan said that NATO would send more troops to Bosnia after nationwide elections in September to help complete the NATO-led peace mission within a one-year mandate. Solana stressed that the arrest of war crime suspects and their extradition to the international criminal tribunal in The Hague was part of the mission which would be fully implemented by December 20. The two NATO officials agreed that the current phase - called Transition to Peace - was the most critical part of the mission. We have to avoid situations like the one we now have in Mostar and we will achieve it through close cooperation with the OSCE and other civilian bodies, Solana said. (hina) vm 251949 MET jul 96