ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - The chief commander of the international Implementation Force (IFOR), Admiral Leighton Smith, said he had no doubts that the military part of the implementation of the Bosnian peace agreement would be completed
in a year's time.
ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - The chief commander of the international
Implementation Force (IFOR), Admiral Leighton Smith, said he had no
doubts that the military part of the implementation of the Bosnian
peace agreement would be completed in a year's time. #L#
Smith said this at a press conference following his meeting
with Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman. Smith addressed the press
conference accompanied by Croatia's Defence Minister Gojko Susak
and the Croatian army Chief-Of-Staff Zvonimir Cervenko. The IFOR
commander warned however that much more difficult task would be the
implementation of the civil part of the agreement.
Smith said he was very satisfied with the speed at which the
operation was being carried out. He especially stressed good
cooperation between IFOR and the Republic of Croatia.
IFOR was especially concerned about the situation in Mostar
and Sarajevo, Smith said and added that IFOR would not tolerate
attacks on its members or its aircraft, but would return fire.
The IFOR commander was still satisfied with the course of the
operation, adding that it was encouraging that all sides wanted to
implement the peace agreement.
At the end of the conference, Croatian Defence Minister Susak
expressed Croatia's readiness to fully cooperate in the
implementation of the peace agreement.
(hina) rm
092342 MET jan 96