ADMIRAL SMITH VISITS VITEZ HVO OFFICER CORPS

VITEZ, 8 May (Hina) - The commander of the international Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Admiral Leighton Smith, today visited the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) command in Vitez, central Bosnia, in order to check the stage of the implementation of the military part of the Dayton peace agreement on the storage of anti-aircraft weapons. After he inspected weapons in storage areas with his host, HVO Officer Corps commander Major General Drago Dragicevic, Admiral Smith praised HVO's behaviour and role in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. Admiral Smith and Major General Drago Dragicevic agreed that the problem of minefields was underestimated. IFOR held that the time limit for the removal of mines was unrealistically short and that cooperation between IFOR and all three parties in Bosnia was needed in the process of minesweeping. (hina) rm jn 081510 MET may 96