Operation Deliberation Force - Press Release - 21 Sep 95

Miscellaneous Directory

From: Franco Veltri <fveltri@cpo-link.eucom.mil>

Release Number: 95-43

JOINT STATEMENT BY

ADMIRAL LEIGHTON W. SMITH, Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, and LT. GEN. BERNARD JANVIER, Force Commander, United Nations Peace Forces

AFSOUTH, Naples, 21 September 1995 -- Admiral Smith and General Janvier have concluded that the Bosnian Serbs have complied with the conditions set out in Gen. Janvier's letter of 3 September 1995.

Specifically, they have withdrawn defined heavy weapons from the Sarajevo Exclusion Zone (EZ). This withdrawal has been supervised by the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). United Nations patrols have moved freely through the EZ to verify the removal of the weapons and the destruction of those that remain. The airport has been opened. United Nations and humanitarian traffic has unimpeded access on the main routes into Sarajevo. As confidence grows, access should include civilian traffic. Adm. Smith and Gen. Janvier have therefore agreed that the resumption of air strikes is currently not necessary.

The Bosnian Serbs have expressed their willingness to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement at any time. The United Nations and NATO continue to urge all parties to join the Bosnian Serbs and finalise a cessation of hostilities agreement for the Sarajevo area with the Chief of Mission and the Commander of UNPROFOR with a view to extending it to a complete and country- wide cessation of hostilities at the earliest opportunity.

Notwithstanding the above decision, at this point, Adm. Smith and Gen. Janvier would emphasize that any subsequent attack on Sarajevo, or on any other safe area, or other non-compliance to the exclusion zone, freedom of movement or the functioning of the airport would be subject to investigation and resumption of air strikes.

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