BOSNEWS digest 432 -- 15/10/95

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

From: Dzevat Omeragic <dzavat@ee.mcgill.ca>

Sarajevo, October 12,1995 (Press TWRA) - "More than 4OO OOO people had to leave their homes in B-H which created the biggest refugee wave in Europe since the end of 2nd World War", warned the ICRC spokesman John Sparrow. He stressed that ethnic cleansing does not cease and that in the last wave about 6OOO Bosniaks were expelled from the territory of Banja Luka. ICRC registered about 44OO refugees which are now in Zenica, Travnik and Donji Vakuf while about 2OOO are in Tesanj. ICRC reported that Serbs do not allow the access to the prisons where a great number of men are detained. The refugees who have arrived in the large numbers to central Bosnia witnessed that Serbian authorities on the occupied territories, again opened the notorious concentration camp Keraterm on Mt. Manjaca near Banja Luka. All men of conscription age are taken there and exposed to physical maltreatment and killings. According to the statements of Bosniak refugees expelled from Bosanska Krajina, Serbs opened another, smaller camp in the village Sehovici, near Banja Luka.

Brussels - "Ethnic cleansing conducted by Bosnian Serbs on the territory of Banja Luka is threat to cease fire agreement", said the B-H Foreign Minister Sacirbey adding that "if Serbs continue to do that, we will respond accordingly". (end) S.K.

Brussels, October 12, 1995 (Press TWRA) - At the press conference in Brussels B-H Prime Minister H.Silajdzic commented news that cease fire is respected throughout B-H saying that regarding the establishing of lasting cease fire in B-H he is more optimistic than before."There are three reasons for relative optimism: the first is that Belgrade's regime and Serbian extremists realize that the Great Serbia plan has failed; second is that the international community's ability to solve the B-H problem has changed now; and third reason is the B-H Army's strength. We have forces which can successfully resist to aggressor", stressed Silajdzic.

Brussels, October 12,1995 (Press TWRA) - The ambassadors of countries members of NATO agreed upon the concept of operation of multi-national forces which have to monitor the peace in B-H. However, they still did not decide neither of the proportions of these forces nor which countries will participate. According to diplomatic sources in Brussels at present it is estimated that NATO members will send: US from 2OOOO-25OOO soldiers, Britain 15OOO, France 125OO, Germany 5OOO and Spain about 1OOO. Although the final number is still not established (it is estimated from 5OOOO-7OOOO) this will be the biggest military operation in Europe after 2nd World War. Although Russia is invited to the next NATO Council meeting the role of her forces (2OOOO soldiers) is still not determined because Russia opposes to be under NATO command. B-H Foreign Minister M. Sacirbey welcomed the participation of Russian soldiers in the peace forces but he also insisted to be limited. "Russian forces in B-H should have politically neutral role and serve under commanding structure dominated by NATO", emphasized Sacirbey.