Sarajevo, 12 Sept. 1997

Statement by the NATO Secretary General, Dr. Javier Solana I am pleased to announce that today a small but significant step forward has been made in implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement. I have just had a meeting with the Presidency during which we have reached an agreement to convene the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Military Matters in Sarajevo on Monday, 15 September 1997 at 10 a.m. I have pushed hard for the establishment of the SCMM, which will have a key role to play in increasing confidence and transparency between the parties in the military field. I also welcome the agreement reached in the Council of Ministers this morning to reopen three airfields: Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla. This will help to establish closer links between Bosnia and the outside world and will be an important factor in the economic and social development of the country. I expect this agreement to be implemented rapidly with the help of SFOR.