CPIC MA-00.20 17 July 2000

SFOR Peace Stabilisation Force Coalition Press Information Office Tito Barracks Sarajevo Telephone: 00387-71-495638 FAX: 00387-71-495605 e-mail: cpic_mediaops@sfor.nato.int North Atlantic Council (NAC) Visit SARAJEVO - Members of NATO's North Atlantic Council (NAC) will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet with the Tri-Presidents, International Community officials and SFOR officers July 18-19. They also will visit a Multi-National Division area. The visiting NAC members will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 19 to officially acknowledge the transfer of SFOR headquarters to Camp Butmir and to inaugurate the installation built with NATO funds. Building 200 on Camp Butmir was completed in early June and is now the main headquarters for all SFOR troops in the theater. There will be three media opportunities during the visit: Tuesday, July 18: Accredited media desiring to participate in the photo opportunity (only) at the Sarajevo airport upon the arrival of the NAC should be at the Coalition Press Information Center (CPIC) by 1715 hours July 18. The CPIC will provide transportation to and from the photo op. It is not anticipated that any member of the NAC will make a statement to the media upon arrival. Wednesday, July 19 (two events): A media opportunity is planned for the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the SFOR Headquarters and Camp Butmir by the NATO Secretary General. Lord Robertson will make remarks but a media opportunity to answer questions is not planned. The media will also be given a tour of Camp Butmir. The ceremony is outdoors, so media are advised to bring umbrella if it is rainy. Accredited media wishing to attend should be at the CPIC by 0745 hours for transportation to and from Camp Butmir. There will be a press conference July 19 with the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson and the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch. Those media wishing to attend should be in the briefing room of the CPIC by 1545 hours.