Bosnews Digest 521 / Dec. 27, 1995

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

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

CONTENTS

[01] WITHDRAWAL OF B-H ARMY AND SERB TROOPS STARTED

Sarajevo, Dec 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - B-H army and Serb troops started their withdrawal from the front lines they held in the Sarajevo area as agreed by the peace plan. IFOR spokesman, sector East, col. Richard Pernot said that both sides had already withdrawn from 4O sites at the Sarajevo area. IFOR French soldiers are gradually taking over the supervision on those sites. As for now, IFOR officials do not want to reveal from which points the forces have pulled out but confirm that they pulled out from 2O points each. Pernot specified that Serbs started withdrawing the arms from Ilidza but no evidence of civilian mass fleeing from the Serb held parts of Sarajevo has been recorded. At the IFOR seat to Sarajevo was said that separation between the B-H army and Serb troops was expected to be over as planned at 11 pm on Dec 27, this year. /end/S.K.

[02] HVO SOLDIER KILLED

Mostar, Dec 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - One HVO soldier was killed this morning and two seriously wounded on the motorway Doboj -Teslic. HVO reports the soldiers were fired at from the ambush, the perpetrators have not been known yet. /end/ S.K.

[03] US HELICOPTERS IN TUZLA

Tuzla, Dec 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - First US helicopters arrived at Tuzla. Three attack AH-64 and five transporter UH-6O "Black Hawk" helicopters arrived from their temporary base in Kaposhvar, Hungary at Tuzla within the IFOR mission. AH-64 helicopters are in the mission of supervising the areas where the forces should be separated and take actions against violators. /end/ S.K.

[04] SOLANA ON THE NATO MISSION IN B-H

Washington, dec 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - NATO secr.gen. J. Solana estimated the NATO mission to B-H as a crucial moment showing how well the lessons from the two world wars were learnt, writes "Washington Post". We finally have to stop the worst conflict in Europe since WW II. NATO states remember well the price they paid in 1914 and 1939 due to the blindness of the West. We have the opportunity in B-H not only to stop the war but also to lay a foundation for permanent peace of a new, undivided and democratic Europe," said Solana. /end/ S.K.

[05] THREE BRIDGES FOR PASSENGERS DESTROYED

Mostar, Dec 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Our correspondent reports that the water surplus let out from the reservoir of hydro - electric power plant "Salakovac", north of the town, causing "high tide wave" which flooded three passangers' bridges in the Mostar center. The B-H army engineer corps built the bridges during the aggression on Mostar and rebuilt it with the aid of the EU admin. and the members of the UN Spanish engineer batt. The Mostar mayor S. Orucevic informed the President of the B-H presidency and premier H. Silajdzic on the event announcing investigation in the services and the staff responsible./end/S.K.=A0##

[06] IRFAN AJANOVIC RELEASED

Gracanica, Dec 25,1995 (Press TWRA) - B-H Army and Bosnian Serbs forces exchanged yesterday, in Sockovac near Gracanica, 245 war prisoners. B-H Army exchanged 114 and Serbs 131 prisoners, most of them Muslims from Srebrenica. Dayton agreement has foreseen that all prisoners have to be released by January 2O.

Sarajevo - The state Commission for exchange of war prisoners reported that Irfan Ajanovic has been released. At the time of his arrest Irfan Ajanovic was a representative in B-H Republic Parliament and General Secretary of Party of Democratic Action. Ajanovic was arrested in 1993, by HVO Zepce where he found himself at the beginning of Croatian-Bosniaks conflicts. HVO Zepca held Ajanovic for some time and than handed him over to Bosnian Serbs with whom HVO had a very good relations at that time. At first Serbs held Ajanovic in Doboj and than transferred him to concentration camp Tunjica near Banja Luka. (end) S.K.

[07] IFOR HELICOPTERS

Sarajevo, Dec 25,1995 (Press TWRA) - Three NATO helicopters have been attacked yesterday on the Jajce territory. During their regular reconnaissance flights for IFOR the unidentified party fired from infantry weapons on the helicopters. The helicopters were not hit. The IFOR spokesman M. Reiner said that these attacks most probably were not deliberate attacks because there was lots of firing yesterday which could be qualified as part of celebration.

The NATO Commander for Europe US General G. Joulwan who met with IFOR Commander L. Smith and President of B-H Presidency A. Izetbegovic in Sarajevo after the news on the incident near Jajce said that he was worried about the attack on IFOR and in case attacks repeat there were ways to deal with them. (end) S.K.

[08] SMITH ON PALE

Sarajevo, Dec 25,1995 (Press TWRA) - NATO Commander in B-H Leighton Smith said that he will meet with Bosnian Serbs representatives tomorrow on Pale. He did not say precisely who would he talk to but he emphasized that R. Karadjic or R. Mladic. are out of question. (end) S.K.

[09] POLICE FORCES FOR B-H

New York, Dec 25,1995(Press TWRA) - UN Security Council approved the establishing of international police forces which is part of Peace Agreement for B-H. The resolution on establishing the international civilian police forces which will consist of 17OO men has been adopted unanimously. These forces will train and help the organization of local police. Resolution also approves the establishing of UN civilian office which will be in charge of humanitarian aid, refugees, human rights, elections, economical reconstruction. (end) S.K.

[10] TURKEY DONATES $6 MILLION

Ankara, Dec 26,1995 (Press TWRA) - Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Turkey will donate $6 millions for reconstruction of B-H. This sum Turkey will contribute to urgent help fund for B-H of $5OO millions established on recently held Brussels' donators conference for reconstruction of B-H. (end) S.K.

[11] SLOVENIA DEMANDS PAYMENT IN ADVANCE

Ljubljana, Dec 26,1995 (Press TWRA) - After Slovenian Government lifted the trade embargo against "FRY" and B-H territories under Serbian control National Bank of Slovenia warned Slovenian businessmen to be very careful when dealing with "FRY". Bank of Slovenia demands from Slovenian Government to use appropriate instruments to protect Slovenian contractors who intend to do business with "FRY". "Slovenian companies have to demand from the other side to lay money on the table or to pay in advance because that was always respected on the Balkans", emphasized the Governor of Slovenian Bank France Arhar. Slovenian National Bank proposed also the protection of Slovenian debtors and demands from Government to open account in Slovenia so that Slovenian companies could put money for paying the creditors on the territory of "FRY". Air-company "Adria Airways" first reacted on this warnings and demanded from the Government to, before establishing very profitable flight Ljubljana-Belgrade, sign with so called "FRY's" Government international agreement on air-traffic. Without such agreement the Slovenian plane could be confiscated in Belgrade under the pretext that Serbian money was also spend for purchase of the plane. (end) S.K.

[12] IFOR DEPLOY FORCES

Tuzla, Dec 26,1995 (Press TWRA) - IFOR continues to deploy its forces. Yesterday another 2OO US soldiers arrived to the territory of Tuzla. About 21OO US soldiers already arrived to B-H, out of which 14OO are deployed in Tuzla where they are establishing commanding center, and in next weeks the arrival of 2O OOO US soldiers is expected.

Sarajevo - The representatives of Italian forces which will participate in the peace establishing operation arrived to Pale to talk about the deployment of their forces on the territory under Serbian control, reported IFOR spokesman colonel R. Pernot. Italian brigade which has 265O soldiers should be deployed by January, 1996 at the latest on the territories which will be the French forces responsibility.

US Forces spokesman colonel J. Mcphearson reported that one US helicopter had to land on the territory under Bosnian Serbs control near Banja Luka on account of the damage. This helicopter performed a routine flight on direction Sarajevo-Zagreb, and none of the four passengers was injured.

Pale - The IFOR Commander for B-H US General L. Smith today will meet on Pale with the President of Parliament of so called "republic srpska", Momcilo Krajisnik, reported AFP. They will discuss the implementation of Dayton agreement. (end) S.K.