Press Release (97)143 18 Nov. 1997

Statement by Secretary General on reopening of Banja Luka airport The NATO Secretary General, Dr. Javier Solana, welcomes today's reopening of Banja Luka airport to civil air traffic. The close involvement of OHR and SFOR has made a major contribution to this important development. Signature of Memoranda of Understanding between the SFOR Deputy Commander and the chairmen of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12th September 1997 paved the way to the transfer of the airport facilities to the local authorities and the opening of the airport to civil air traffic. SFOR stands ready to continue providing essential technical support. The reopening of Banja Luka airport is an important step towards the opening of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republika Srpska in particular, to the outside world, thereby reinforcing the peace and economic reconstruction. NATO now looks forward to the early reopening of the two other regional airports, at Mostar and Tuzla.