SFOR Transcript 9 January 2001

Transcript: Joint Press Conference 9 January 2001 Coalition Press Information Center Tito Barracks

Chris Bird (OHR) No statement Sanela Tunovic-Becirovic (OSCE) The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to urge haste in implementing the election results, because BiH cannot afford to drift rudderless at this crucial time. Ambassador Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina made this point to those he met with on Monday - Zubak, Silajdic and Ivanic. We believe that the Alliance for Changes has a program, which the International Community can support. We urge the parties concerned to complete work on it. We are particularly urging that the formations of cantonal governments proceed, and that delegates to Federation House of People be designated. Stefo Lehmann (UNMIBH) UNMIBH is encouraged by the recent performance of the integrated Mostar Crime Department, which has successfully concluded investigations on cases of automobile theft and has recently returned the vehicles to the rightful owners. This is in addition to a number of successful seizures of illegal contraband and drugs, which have been made by the Police in the Herzegovina Neretva Canton during the past several months. These events indicate an increased efficiency of the Herzegovina Neretva Ministry of Interior since its physical unification last June and it demonstrates that by working together the Ministry is able to defend the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens more effectively than when it operated under separate command structures. Unfortunately however, these success are diminished by the fact that the Herzegovina Neretva Police has until this date been unable to find the perpetrators of over 100 incidents in the past two and a half years committed against returnees in Herzegovina Neretva Canton particularly in the Stolac area but not limited to the Stolac area. If the police is able to find stolen vehicles and return them to the rightful owners then should certainly be able to find the perpetrators of these crimes against returnees in the Herzegovina Neretva Canton. Aida Feraget (UNHCR) Some 59,000 registered minority returns took place during the first 11 months of 2000, this is according to the latest statistics released by UNHCR today. The figure includes 5,410 minority returns registered by OHR in Brcko District during the same period. "UNHCR is pleased with the steady increase in minority returns throughout the year. With the strict implementation of property Laws and adequate return and reconstruction support programmes we hope to see the continuation of this positive trend in 2001" said Werner Blatter, UNHCR Chief of Mission in BiH. The end of the year statistics of registered minority returns will be available by the first week of February. Major Bob Thompson (SFOR) SFOR PROJECT HARVEST 2000 Results - Today SFOR officials released the results of Project Harvest between Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2000. Project Harvest is an ongoing effort throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina to make the cities and villages safer for everyone. The program is a co-operative effort between SFOR, the Entity Armed Forces and local officials to encourage the people of BiH to turn in illegal and unwanted weapons and ammunition. Every bullet and every destructive device turned-in potentially saves a life. The following weapons were collected by the Entity-led effort throughout BiH: · 5,081 weapons, including rifles, pistols, etc. · 2,809,432 rounds of ammunition · 2,642 land mines · 22,799 hand and rifle grenades · 4,633.9 kg of explosives · 18,498 mortars, mortar rounds, rifle grenades, handmade ordnance, etc. Weapons Found near Pale - On Jan. 5, an SFOR reconnaissance patrol from MND-SE found and seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in an old railway tunnel near Pale. This included more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition, 46 hand and rifle grenades, 10 rifles and machine guns, 5 mortar tubes, 5 mines, 10 explosive blocks and one mortar shell. SFOR will continue to seek out and collect illegal weapons of war to make BiH safer for everyone. The weapons, ammunition and explosives from Pale will be destroyed in the next few days. AFSOUTH Briefing Jan 11 - Command authority for KFOR will transfer from Supreme Allied Headquarters Europe (SHAPE) to Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) in Naples, Italy starting on Jan. 18. SFOR command authority will also transfer to AFSOUTH at a later date. Capt. Steve Burnett, U.S. Navy, Chief of Public Information for AFSOUTH will provide a background briefing on the new organizational structure to the media at the Coalition Press Information Center in Sarajevo during the regularly scheduled Press Conference at 11:30 on Jan. 11. This new military structure is expected to be more efficient for command and control of NATO troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Copies of my statement and copies of a news release regarding the transfer of command authority are available outside in the reception area. Questions and Answers Q Zeljko Tica (BHTV) - Do you have any new details on the investigation regarding the three bullets? A SFOR - Yes, yesterday an SFOR explosive ordinance disposal team inspected the ammunition that was handed in to us by visiting journalists. The inspection revealed that the three bullets appeared to be 30mm in size and were somewhat fragmented. The team used radiological monitoring devices and detected low levels of radiation confirming the rounds as depleted uranium. SFOR is continuing the investigation into the origin of the rounds and is continuing to secure the bullets at this time.