Press Conference on Transfer of Authority to IFOR

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to be here at my first
press conference as Secretary General. I look forward to
regular contacts with all of you in coming days and
months. I would also like to salute the presence of NATO
Ambassadors here today.

Four days ago, following adoption of UN Security
Council Resolution 1031, NATO initiated Operation JOINT
ENDEAVOUR to establish a NATO-led Implementation Force for
the Bosnian peace agreement.

Today, at 11.00, Admiral Leighton Smith, as Commander
of the IFOR, assumed control of military operations in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
This is a momentous event. With transfer of
authority, the IFOR now consists of 17,000 NATO troops in
Bosnia. This represents one quarter of the planned force.
This number will increase daily as more forces arrive by
land, sea and air, and as more UN forces transfer to IFOR.

The presence of NATO in Sarajevo demonstrates the
commitment of the Alliance to play its part in
implementing the peace agreement signed last week in
Paris. It also demonstrates our ability - despite bad
weather - to establish the IFOR quickly, to get on with
the job of ensuring rapid and full compliance with the
military aspects of the peace agreement.

The IFOR will conduct its mission professionally and
in an even-handed manner. We are very pleased so far with
the cooperation shown by the parties and their early
compliance with the peace agreement. We welcome this
cooperation and expect it to continue.

There will be risks and there will be dangers. There
may also be limited violations. We will try to handle
these through the Joint Military Commissions. But let it
be known that IFOR has the means and authority to ensure
that the peace agreement is respected by the parties.

The build-up of IFOR will continue rapidly in the
coming weeks. We look forward to incorporating
contributions from Russia, from other Partners, and from
other countries with forces and experience in the region.
So far we have invited sixteen countries to participate in
the IFOR. Many have already responded positively and we
are in the process of concluding participation agreements
with the first of the non-NATO countries to join IFOR. In
short the Alliance is truly leading a coalition for peace.

Yesterday I met with Carl Bildt, the High
Representative. We will be working closely with him and
with the other organizations involved to ensure that the
conditions for lasting peace are firmly established within
twelve months. NATO's military engagement can not alone
secure a long-term peace. That can come only from a
programme of political, economic and social
reconstruction. By dealing with the military side of the
equation, NATO will help assure an environment conducive
for the civil and political reconstruction to go forward.
The early conclusion of an arms control regime and
confidence and security building measures as foreseen in
the peace plan is also of fundamental importance. The
Bonn Conference last Monday gave a very valuable impetus
to this arms control process and we expect the parties to
now show the political will to make it happen.

Je voudrais aussi profiter de cette occasion
pour rendre hommage aux Nations Unies, qui, au cours des
trois dernieres annees, ont assume le lourd fardeau du
maintien de la paix et de l'aide humanitaire en Bosnie.
Beaucoup d'hommes ont fait le sacrifice supreme au cours
de cette mission souvent meconnue, mais qui a
incontestablement permis de sauver des milliers de vies et
de limiter le conflit. J'ai exprime hier soir ma
reconnaissance au Secretaire general des Nations Unies, M.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

L'arrivee rapide de l'IFOR rassurera toutes les
parties et tous les habitants de la Bosnie-Herzegovine,
qu'il s'agisse des Serbes de Sarajevo ou des Bosniaques de
Gorazde. C'est peut-etre par une heureuse coincidence que
l'IFOR se deploie a l'approche de Noel, qui est
traditionnellement un moment de paix, d'espoir et de
renouveau. L'IFOR aidera ainsi a communiquer cet esprit de
Noel dans toute la Bosnie en amenant tous ceux et toutes
celles qui s'y trouvent a oublier le conflit qui les
oppose et a oeuvrer en faveur d'une paix durable.