MEMORANDUM ON TUZLA AIRPORT SIGNED

TUZLA, Sept 20 (Hina) - The commander of Sector North of the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, General David L. Grange, and the prefect of the Tuzla Canton, north-eastern BH, Sead Jamakosmanovic, on Saturday signed a memorandum on understanding between the multinational division North and the Tuzla Canton government on modalities relating to the turnover of objects for the Tuzla airport. The memorandum stipulates conditions for the transfer of a section of SFOR's current military base under civil control and for the requirements of the Tuzla airport in passenger air transport. The memorandum was signed in view of preparations for the return of objects at the Tuzla airport under civil control. One of its articles stipulates that, apart from objects to return under the Tuzla Canton's government control, the Tuzla airport and the belonging air space remain under the multinational division North's control. The memorandum also stipulates that SFOR's military activities will have precedence over civil air traffic. The canton's authorities made a commitment not to disturb military activities. General Grange said the memorandum was a continuation in the implementation of the Dayton peace accord as concerned the gradual introduction of civil control over the Bosnian sky. Planes of peace would take off from the Tuzla airport, he said. Prefect Jamakosmanovic pointed out the memorandum's significance, saying the airport would be open for all people in BH. According to Mustafa Terzic, the director of Aerodrom Tuzla Enterprise, which will manage the civil part of the airport, the first passenger planes will take off next spring. (hina) ha 201833 MET sep 97