SPANISH SFOR BRIGADE APOLOGIZES FOR MOSTAR INCIDENT

MEDJUGORJE, Jan 12 (Hina) - The NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) Spanish brigade on Sunday apologized for a incident which happened in the night between 10 and 11 January when a Spanish SFOR member removed a Croatian flag from the building of a grammar school in Mostar, southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Spanish brigade expressed deep regret at the incident and would not like that it may lessen Spanish units' achievements in the area of Mostar. According to the statement, the brigade's public statement was quoted by the Bosnian Croat news agency HABENA, as saying that a Spanish soldier removed the flag while he was patrolling the town. He stated that his intention was to keep the flag as a souvenir and not "to violate or attack symbols of one people." The Spanish contingent's command has punished persons responsible for the incidents, and is expecting that the grievous event will not arouse people's mistrust of duties which the Spanish contingent is to perform. (hina) mš 121446 MET jan 97