Main News Summary
Saturday, 6 September 2003

SFOR
Oslobodjenje
Most of Canadian SFOR contingent moves from Glamoc to Drvar
Most of the Canadian SFOR contingent moved from Glamoc to Drvar area on Wednesday. However, a small part of the contingent remained in the area of Glamoc, confirmed the Mayor of Glamoc, Rade Gvero. He added that the smaller part of the contingent would be located at the Suhopolje Base and conduct patrol missions in the town as well as in the Glamoc area. (p. 6)/The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 12)/
SFOR
Slobodna Dalmacija
General Crespo takes command over MNB (SE)
Spanish General, Marin Bello Crespo, took command over the MNB (SE) at the Transfer of Authority ceremony held at the Air Base in Mostar. The TOA was conducted in the presence of COMSFOR Lt. General William Ward. General Crespo replaced Italian General Chiarina, and will be in command of the MNB (SE) for the next six months. General Crespo is 55 years old and has successfully participated in international missions in BiH. Five years ago, he performed the duty of Head of the Office of the then MND. (p. 16)
SFOR
Jutarnje Novine
SFOR scares citizens of Zagreb
Military helicopters and armed SFOR soldiers frightened citizens of the western part of Zagreb, Croatia. SFOR soldiers were accommodated at the hotel Golden Tulip, and were preparing for the rotation of SFOR troops in BiH. SFOR made a statement that these activities were a part of a regular exercise of soldiers who would soon be deployed in the Northwest of BiH. SFOR spokesperson in Banja Luka, Sarto le Blanc, said that SFOR had informed in due course the relevant authorities in the Republic of Croatia about conducting an exercise, and that the Croatian authorities had approved it.(p. 14)
SFOR
Oslobodjenje
SFOR: "Inspection of BH Telecom building in Mostar was routine operation"
On Friday, SFOR stated that the search operation conducted in Mostar had been only a routine inspection. "The inspection of the Telecom building in Mostar was a routine, unannounced inspection that SFOR has been conducting on occasional basis. I cannot give you any more details about the operation, but what I can say is that the operation in question was routine checking of post offices and communications facilities that SFOR has been doing before," stated SFOR spokesperson Dale MacEachern. (photo on p. 9)/The same in Nezavisne Novine (p. 3)
SFOR
Oslobodjenje
SFOR assists in seizure of weapons conducted by the Ljubuski Police Department
Members of the Ljubuski Police Station uncovered 87 boxes containing grenades and explosive devices at the Ceranski Gaj near Cerno, the Municipality of Ljubuski. They found 168 PMR-2 anti-personnel mines, 328 RPG grenades, 120 rifle grenades, 60 PAM2 anti-personnel mines and 70 fuses for the mines, 12 anti-tank mines with fuses and two boxes of additional charges for RPG grenades. The on-site investigation in the presence and assistance of SFOR was carried out by members of the Crime Police of the Ljubuski Police Department and the Cantonal Prosecutor of the Ljubuski municipality. (p.2)/The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 47), Jutarnje Novine (p. 55), Dnevni List (photo on p. 45), Nezavisne Novine (p. 9), Slobodna Dalmacija (p. 18)/
SFOR
Jutarnje Novine
SFOR seizes weapons in the vicinity of Prijedor
Soldiers from the "Alfa" Company of the UK Combat Group, MNB (NW), again uncovered and seized a large quantity of ammunition from basements of the houses located northeast of Prijedor. They found 4,994 rounds, 248 mortar shells, 220 anti-tank mines, 60 rockets, 41 M79 rocket launchers, 11 machine guns and 8 pieces of other military equipment. (p. 3)/The same in Dnevni List (p. 9), Glas Srpske (p. 2)/
SFOR
Dnevni avaz
Austrian Defense Minister: "EU to replace NATO in BiH by the end of 2004 or at the beginning of 2005"
Austrian Minister of Defense, Gunter Plater, stated for the "Financial Times Deutschland" that the European Union should replace NATO in BiH by the end of 2004 or at the beginning of 2005, despite strong objections coming from the US which believe that conditions for such a plan have not been met yet. "I believe that the transfer of authority from NATO and SFOR to EU will take place at the end of 2004 or at the beginning of 2005," said Mr. Plater. This plan was discussed by the EU foreign ministries in Madrid in June this year, but it was not welcomed by the US due to the fact that certain European countries were against the war in Iraq. (p. 3)/The same in Jutarnje Novine (p. 9), Nezavisne Novine (p. 20/
OHR
Oslobodjenje
OHR makes no comments on links between Alibabic and OHR
On Friday, OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic stated that the OHR would not comment on allegations published in the media about links that former director of the Federation Intelligence and Security Service, Munir Alibabic, allegedly had with the OHR. "We do not comment on the issues related to the internal security matters," said Milisic. According to articles published in a number of papers in BiH, Alibabic had allegedly made contacts with the OHR official, Morris Power, who is in charge of issues regarding the Sarajevo region. Articles in those papers also read that Alibabic's daughter Irisa was employed in Power's Office. (p. 8)