UN
Secretary
General
S/1997/468
June 16, 1997

I. Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 28 of Security Council resolution 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996. It summarizes the activities of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) since my report of 14 March 1997 (S/1997/224). It also provides an overview of the activities of the United Nations system in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the same period.

2. The mission continues to be led by my Special Representative and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Kai Eide (Norway). He is assisted by Mr. Manfred Seitner (Denmark), who serves as the Commissioner of the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF).

II. Activities of the Mission

3. The authorized strength of IPTF has increased from 1,721 to 2,027 in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1103 (1997) of 31 March 1997, relating to the implementation of the Brcko arbitration award, and 1107 (1997) of 16 May 1997, relating to the additional tasks assigned by the London Conference of the Peace Implementation Council of 4 and 5 December 1996. On 10 June 1997, IPTF had a strength of 1,812 monitors from 38 different countries (see annex). Efforts are continuing with a view to reaching the new authorized strength as quickly as possible.

4. The main goals of the Force continue to be to contribute to the improvement of freedom of movement, to monitor and assist in the establishment of safe conditions for returning refugees and displaced persons, to monitor and assist in the establishment of safe conditions during the forthcoming election campaign and to assist in the restructuring and training of the local police. In this effort, monitoring the activities of the local police has remained a major focus. In addition, investigations are being carried out into allegations of human rights violations by the local police.

5. In order to increase freedom of movement, a new checkpoint policy has been developed by my Special Representative and the IPTF Commissioner in cooperation with the Stabilization Force (SFOR) and the Office of the High Representative and is being introduced. The policy aims to end the practice, common to all parts of the country, that vehicles bearing the licence plates of the other entity, or the other party in the Federation, are regularly stopped and harassed by the local police, thereby preventing the population from exercising its right to move freely around the country. The new policy forbids the local police to hold static checkpoints for longer than 30 minutes, unless prior approval has been obtained from IPTF. The police can apply to IPTF for permits to establish checkpoints based on evidence that they are required for the prevention and reduction of crime and may also establish checkpoints for emergency purposes, provided that IPTF is notified. For implementation, the policy relies on the cooperation of SFOR, which has agreed to assist IPTF in the removal of illegal checkpoints. The Federation Government has endorsed the new checkpoint policy, although local compliance remains unsatisfactory. The Republika Srpska authorities have explicitly refused to accept the new policy. Nonetheless, local police in the Republika Srpska have avoided direct confrontation by abandoning their temporary checkpoints whenever they are approached by joint IPTF/SFOR patrols.

6. In the first three weeks of the new policy, IPTF/SFOR patrols have removed over 40 illegal police checkpoints. Nevertheless, IPTF continues to receive reports of random checks, mainly by the Republika Srpska police. Checkpoints are set up in particular in the area of the Inter-Entity Boundary Line and between areas under the control of the two Federation partners. IPTF is also receiving reports that the harassment of citizens from the other entity, or ethnicity, continues. UNMIBH and SFOR are determined to maintain pressure on the police throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, they continue to work with the authorities of both entities to improve the ability of the local police to combat crime.

7. IPTF has also facilitated freedom of movement by providing advice and guidance to local police on operational issues, as well as by serving as a bridge between the police forces of the Federation and the Republika Srpska. During the reporting period, IPTF ensured close cooperation between the two entities when preparing for the visit of His Holiness the Pope, as well as during the "Hearts to Peace" pilgrimage, the celebrations on "Army Day" and the many graveside visits on the occasion of the Bajram holiday, all of which included travel across the Inter-Entity Boundary Line. This cooperation, together with the overall area security provided by SFOR, ensured that no incidents occurred during those events.

8. In response to the Brcko Implementation Conference of 7 March and Security Council resolution 1103 (1997) of 31 March 1997, in which the Council authorized 186 additional IPTF monitors for Brcko, a full complement of 258 monitors had been deployed in Brcko by 1 June 1997. This quick response was made possible through the redeployment of IPTF officers from other parts of the country pending the arrival of the additional newly recruited officers. IPTF's immediate tasks in Brcko will be to ensure freedom of movement and security for returning refugees and displaced persons and the implementation of a reform programme for the local police. As elsewhere, the success of IPTF's efforts will depend to a considerable extent on the support provided by SFOR. Several meetings at the highest level of the Republika Srpska government, held by my Special Representative and the IPTF Commissioner, as well as the High Representative and the SFOR Commander, have addressed the issue of the IPTF police reform package in Brcko. Regrettably, owing to the opposition of the Republika Srpska authorities, it has not yet been possible to start this programme.

9. The plan for an integrated Federation Ministry of the Interior has made further progress. Additional training courses for Federation police officers have begun. IPTF has identified a building for the Federation Police Academy in Sarajevo and is working with the Federation Ministry of the Interior on its refurbishment. Following the restructuring of the Sarajevo cantonal police, restructuring efforts were concentrated on the Neretva Canton, which incorporates Mostar. After a prolonged period of negotiations, agreement on the installation of a fully unified Federation police organization was reached on 6 June 1997 by Federation and local Mostar officials. Plans have been made to restructure the remaining eight Federation cantonal police forces by September 1997.

10. A list of equipment, services and training needs required for the national police forces has now been finalized and the first training courses have been initiated in the Federation. The first model police station, at Centar Sarajevo, has been identified and is receiving substantial support from IPTF and the Government of the United States of America. Contributions to the Trust Fund from donor Governments towards the programme for assistance to the local police currently exceed US$ 4 million, but fall well short of the requirements, which remain in excess of US$ 90 million. Additional contributions to the programmes presented in Dublin in September 1996 are urgently required.

11. In its resolution 1107 (1997) of 16 May 1997, the Security Council authorized the addition of 120 IPTF monitors to carry out new tasks assigned by the London Conference. During the reporting period, three further special IPTF investigations were completed with existing monitors, in addition to the investigation of the Mostar incident of 10 February 1997 (see S/1997/204). These new investigations relate to incidents in Gajevi and Brcko, in the Republika Srpska, and in Drvar, in the Federation.

12. The investigation into the failure of the Republika Srpska police to take adequate precautions to prevent the burning of prefabricated Bosniac homes, which occurred in Gajevi in March 1997, concluded that the local police chief and his staff had failed in their duty either to protect the homes or to conduct proper investigations. After pressure was brought to bear on the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior to respond appropriately, the Minister informed IPTF that he had identified 12 culprits, four of whom have now been sentenced to fines by a local court. Nine police officers have been disciplined for failing to perform their duty. No action was taken against the two most senior police officers involved.

13. The IPTF investigation in Brcko established that, on 1 May, the Republika Srpska police had failed to protect a group of Bosniacs who were attacked by a small group of stone-throwers as they were returning to the Federation in two buses. The investigation also concluded that Republika Srpska police administrators, supervisors and officers had failed to cooperate with IPTF over the incident. As a result, an investigation was undertaken by the Republika Srpska police that was monitored by IPTF. Four local police officers have been disciplined and six civilians are currently under investigation for minor offences.

14. With regard to Drvar, the IPTF report focused on the burning of 24 unoccupied Serb dwellings between November 1996 and April 1997. The report documented that municipal authorities and local police had colluded to prevent the return of Serb displaced persons. It concluded that senior Bosnian Croat police officers had consistently failed to respond professionally to IPTF's frequent requests that high-ranking officials act to halt this pattern of crime. As a result of the IPTF request, the Chief of the Criminal Police Department and the leader of the Anti-Terrorist and Homicide Branch in Drvar have been replaced and the number of reported incidents has been reduced.

15. IPTF is liaising closely with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Implementation Plan for the September municipal elections. IPTF Election Liaison Officers have been appointed at all levels and have provided support during the registration period, particularly in those areas where fraud in registration and voting lists has been identified. Plans for the training and deployment of IPTF Election Duty Monitors and the local police are in place.

16. Civil Affairs continued to support the other elements of the UNMIBH mission and, in particular, IPTF during the period under review through political advice, political reporting, human rights work and confidence- building measures. Steps have been taken to integrate further the various elements of the mission. During the coming period, Civil Affairs will, in addition, become involved in training IPTF officers new to the mission area. As the municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina approach, Civil Affairs will also participate in the OSCE-led effort to create conditions in which voters can make a free and informed choice at the ballot box. In addition, Civil Affairs officers have worked with IPTF to identify areas of possible inter-communal conflict and to initiate political contacts to head off such clashes. Major potential conflicts in the areas of Mostar, Travnik, Vitez, Sanski Most and elsewhere have been successfully avoided thanks to action initiated by Civil Affairs officers.

17. In cooperation with IPTF and other organizations active in the area of human rights, Civil Affairs has focused political efforts on human rights problems in Brcko, Drvar, Jajce and elsewhere. Civil Affairs has intervened with local authorities and has provided case-work which was brought to the attention of the highest authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina by my Special Representative. Particular emphasis has been placed on police behaviour and related human rights abuses that have occurred when persons belonging to one ethnic group sought to return to homes located in areas currently controlled by authorities of a different group.

18. In addition to nurturing inter-communal contacts on its own initiative, Civil Affairs has continued to provide good offices in parts of the country in which there are no other representatives of the international community. In central Bosnia, for instance, Civil Affairs has chaired seminars on the subject of governance in a federal environment prepared by Swiss experts and officials, which were attended by Bosniac and Croat authorities.

The Legal Office

19. The UNMIBH Legal Office has been supporting IPTF in the implementation of its mandate in relation to the criminal justice system by working with an international expert team on the re-drafting of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure for the Federation; by reviewing model police protocols drafted by the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme (ICITAP); by advising on the development of mechanisms to document non-compliance of law enforcement officials; by sponsoring a planning workshop on criminal justice reform for international agencies providing programmes; by advising on the development of an administrative review procedure for police certification; and by providing advice on the interpretation of the General Framework Agreement and international standards. In addition, the UNMIBH Legal Office routinely provides advice to IPTF personnel in the field on general questions of local law.

Mine Action Centre

20. During the past three months the Mine Action Centre (MAC) has made substantial progress in the implementation of its 1997 programme, although the scale of the programme had to be cut back because of insufficient funding.

21. On 26 May, training courses for 135 Bosnian deminers, organized by MAC, began in Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar. These deminers are the first of those who will be deployed on priority tasks by MAC starting in late June before being integrated into the Government structures when MAC facilities are transferred to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission for Demining in December 1997. If funds become available, up to 1,200 deminers will be trained, deployed and transferred to the Government structures at the end of the year.

22. Regional offices of MAC are now fully operational in Banja Luka, Bihac, Mostar and Tuzla. In addition to running the training programmes, the regional offices work with the local authorities and the multinational divisions of SFOR to collect more information about the location of minefields, to set priorities for the mine clearance operations, to promote mine awareness in the areas of the country most affected by mines and to coordinate all mine clearance operations in the regions.

23. MAC continues to cooperate with external agencies. A contract has been signed with an international non-governmental organization for the development of a 30-man demining team in Bihac. In addition, MAC has received 17 technical experts made available by the Governments of Austria, Canada, France, Norway and Sweden. Additional experts are expected by the end of June from Germany and Switzerland. These experts are working on training programmes and on monitoring of operations. MAC continues to assist the European Commission, the World Bank, Norwegian Peoples' Aid and other organizations participating in the Mine Action Plan with their respective demining programmes. Liaison with SFOR and its activities in support of mine lifting by the armies of the former warring factions has been strengthened.

24. The Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission for Demining, established following the London Conference of the Peace Implementation Council in December 1996, has met regularly and taken decisions in line with its mandate. It has submitted a number of reports to the Council of Ministers. Action by the latter to endorse the Commission's reports and to establish a budget for its operations is now a matter of great urgency. Meanwhile, the Governments of the Federation and the Republika Srpska have established project implementation units at both central and regional levels to manage the implementation of World Bank-funded projects.

25. Tragically, the arrival of spring weather and the return of displaced persons and refugees has led to a sharp increase in the number of civilian mine casualties and fatalities reported. This figure has now reportedly doubled to approximately 90 incidents per month and, as more refugees return during the summer, it can be expected that the number will rise further. The demand from municipalities and communities for help with mine clearance is growing correspondingly. It is anticipated that by July 1997 a total of 700 deminers will be engaged in mine clearance for the organizations participating in the Mine Action Plan. This is well short of the basic requirement of 2,000 deminers identified in the United Nations consolidated appeal for 1997.

26. MAC itself faces an immediate funding crisis. Contributions were received in 1996 and early 1997 from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the European Commission, together with in-kind support from the Government of the United States of America. However, even at a reduced level of operation, these funds are expected to be exhausted next month. In view of the delays in the receipt of funds, the revised requirement for 1997 has been set at US$ 23 million, a modest amount considering the enormous benefits to the people of Bosnia which will result. Support from donor Governments is now urgently required.

Trust Fund Unit

27. The Trust Fund Unit, established under Security Council resolution 900 (1994), was transferred to UNMIBH from the Office of the Special Coordinator for Sarajevo in May 1996. Guided by terms of reference which cover the "reconstruction of essential services" in Sarajevo, the Unit continues to monitor the implementation of 52 large-scale infrastructure projects initiated under the Sarajevo Trust Fund programme, which has disbursed over US$ 13 million for projects primarily in the sectors of public transport, public utilities and building reconstruction. The Unit also manages the Quick Impact Fund. With nearly 90 projects in progress, this fund has distributed over US$ 2.4 million, mainly towards the renovation of educational facilities, repair to gas and water delivery systems and support to municipal authorities in Sarajevo.

III. Activities of the United Nations System

28. The Office for Coordination of Emergency Agricultural Interventions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) identifies beneficiaries for humanitarian assistance in the agricultural sector; assesses needs for relief; provides technical advice to non-governmental organizations and other agencies and coordinates their activities. The office also organizes monthly joint task force meetings with international agencies and the responsible local authorities.

29. Limited funds have restricted FAO's spring 1997 campaign to emergency assistance amounting to US$ 135,000 for seeds, hand tools, fertilizers and crop protection chemicals in the Gorazde area. In addition, the FAO coordination project has distributed donations from Germany to the Neretva Canton municipalities.

United Nations Children's Fund

30. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has progressed from emergency relief to long-term reconstruction and development assistance with an emphasis on training service providers and policy makers to meet the needs of children in the post-war period. In the health sector, UNICEF focuses its activities on children under the age of five who have not completed their primary vaccination schedule. In education, UNICEF is sponsoring monthly round tables to facilitate communication between the Federal and Cantonal Ministries of Education and to develop long-term training plans for the development of school psychological and special pedagogical services. UNICEF's Safe Water Supply project ensures that some 500,000 people each receive a minimum of 80 litres of potable water and trains the Water Management Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina on new technology. In cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World bank, UNICEF is assisting the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare in dealing with child mental health services.

United Nations Development Programme

31. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Cooperation Framework for 1997-1999 was formally approved in May 1997. The focus remains on area-based development; support to national sectoral reconstruction programmes; and policy advisory support to the Government. Thirty-two projects totalling US$ 25.1 million are ongoing or have recently been approved. The European Commission has recently agreed to make an additional US$ 11 million available for reconstruction activities and has given its approval to an emergency employment programme which will focus on the municipalities identified by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as target areas for the return of refugees in 1997.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

32. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) focused on the following four major projects during the reporting period: (a) preparation of a rehabilitation plan for the old town of Mostar which, it is anticipated, will be written into the town plan; (b) an exercise in the Republika Srpska to help the authorities establish priorities in school reconstruction; (c) an increase of the administrative and planning capacity of both the education administration of the Middle Bosnia Canton and the Federal Ministry of Education and Culture; and (d) supporting the efforts of Bosnia's National TV 99 to extend its broadcasting area by financing the raising of the station's transmission tower, and helping small independent media in the Republika Srpska by contributing communications equipment.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

33. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1997/57, extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur through March 1998. Following the resignation of the United Nations Expert on Missing Persons, the Special Rapporteur has assumed added responsibility for the problem of missing persons. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights organized one mission of the Special Rapporteur to Herzegovina and the Sarajevo region during the current reporting period.

34. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights continues to participate in efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between human rights agencies, in particular the Human Rights Coordination Centre of the Office of the High Representative. Human rights experts from the office continue to supervise a trial monitoring project and participate in other activities aimed at strengthening the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

35. During the period under review, UNHCR continued its efforts to implement annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement. On 23 April, at a meeting of the Humanitarian Issues Working Group in Geneva, the Office presented a working plan entitled Repatriation and Return Operation 1997, which received broad support from the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the asylum countries and the international community. The document, which forms the basis of UNHCR's action in 1997 and 1998, provides a policy framework for repatriation and return movements, as well as for assistance to be provided to facilitate repatriation and return movements. It also contains a range of proposed activities and solutions to the problems of Bosnian refugees and internally displaced persons.

36. It is estimated that, by 31 May 1997, 27,900 refugees had returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6,424 of them in an organized fashion. Most of these refugees returned to majority areas.

37. Efforts to provide greater scope for minority returns were made through the "open cities" initiative. Building upon grass-roots initiatives, UNHCR and its partners offer support and material assistance to villages and municipalities which volunteer to declare themselves "open cities" by welcoming previous residents from all ethnic communities who wish to return to their former homes. UNHCR is now seeking to ensure that authorities in the Entities follow through on their commitment to the open city concept, which was announced in a joint statement issued on 21 March 1997, and that they continue their support for returns to the Zone of Separation.

38. In related activities, UNHCR has set up legal aid centres in Tuzla, Mostar, Bosanska Krupa and Zenica. Information centres for returnees and displaced persons have been established in the Tuzla-Podrinje Canton and in the Mostar region. The Repatriation Information Centre has also become operational. To further promote the freedom of movement of people, UNHCR has continued to expand and improve the services of the bus lines which traverse the Inter-Entity Boundary Line. By May 1997, UNHCR was operating 11 bus lines between key municipalities of the Federation and the Republika Srpska, including a new line to and from Brcko. Since the project began in May 1996, the lines have transported nearly 340,000 passengers. Assessment visits to homes of origin continued.

39. UNHCR has also devoted considerable efforts to the following activities: community services, with special emphasis on the elderly, children and youth and severely traumatized persons; and small-scale income-generating activities and local capacity-building for public institutions and non-governmental organizations. UNHCR's procurement of domestic items fully shifted to support of the local market. The impact of the Bosnian Women's Initiative through May 1997 was significant as it received numerous applications from women's groups and non-governmental organizations in the Federation and the Republika Srpska. Funding for 65 projects was approved during the period. These community-based projects target the most vulnerable women through income generation, micro-credit, food production, skills training and information sharing. The Initiative has contributed to empowering women and creating a ground for reconciliation.

World Bank

40. The World Bank's mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to implement the reconstruction programme approved by the international community at the Brussels conference in December 1995. The Bank is also helping Bosnia and Herzegovina introduce reform in the economic system to permit a more marketfriendly economic development. A total of US$ 350 million in World Bank funds has been mobilized in 16 specific projects to date. In addition, a fund of US$ 150 million is being managed by the Bank for co-financing these projects. The value of the projects prepared by the Bank, now in implementation phase, exceeds US$ 1 billion. As of mid-March 1997, contracts signed using World Bankadministered funds totalled 1,525, for a value of US$ 230 million.

41. The World Bank continues to help coordinate the work of donors participating in the reconstruction programme. Particular support has been provided to UNHCR for its priority refugee return programme. The Bank has been able to mobilize substantial resources to rebuild houses in the UNHCR target zones and to implement job-creation programmes and other schemes for infrastructure development. Other agencies playing a key role with the World Bank in coordinating reconstruction are: FAO, UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). These agencies lead reconstruction task forces set up by the World Bank covering agriculture, health, water and employment. The World Bank and UNDP have closely coordinated programmes, resulting in an excellent leverage of UNDP efforts.

World Food Programme

42. The World Food Programme (WFP) has continued to implement its 1997 strategy for phasing down food aid, including the full reassessment of the beneficiary caseload in conjunction with the local authorities. It is building up a register of the vulnerable who are in need of humanitarian support and de-selecting those beneficiaries who are now able to support themselves and their families. In February, the beneficiary caseload was 1,780,002; by June this figure will have been reduced by 25 per cent to 1,337,817. Of this total, 320,004 people have been identified as most vulnerable and are receiving a higher ration. The assessment process is continuing and this figure will rise over the coming months. At the end of May, a WFP-led Joint Food Aid Needs Assessment Mission started visiting all parts of the country. This mission is assessing the need for continued food aid and reviewing the targeting approach.

43. WFP has begun using food aid to support a number of small-scale, short-term socio-economic rehabilitation projects aimed at helping beneficiaries in the transition away from free food hand-outs by creating employment, supporting training and promoting self-sufficiency. In addition, WFP continues to support the milling industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wheat grain donated by the United States of America is being processed at six mills and further donations of grain are expected from Canada and Italy. In May, WFP began a rehabilitation project at the Bihac Mill to repair war-damaged infrastructure and replace machinery.

World Health Organization

44. The World Health Organization (WHO) has succeeded in re-establishing communications among health professionals from various communities in many areas. The reform and reconstruction of the health system also continues to progress, even in the face of reticence from the political authorities. In the Federation, a working draft of the Strategic Plan for Health System Reform is expected to be completed in June. In addition, the Republika Srpska's Strategic Plan for Health System Reform has been completed and will be presented shortly to the Republika Srpska Assembly for parliamentary approval.

IV. Observations

45. I warmly welcome the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council Ministerial Steering Board, held at Sintra, Portugal, on 30 May 1997 (see S/1997/434), at which the Governments of the countries members of the Steering Board agreed to take strong measures in support of United Nations priority concerns, including freedom of movement, police reform, refugee return and compliance with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

46. The ability of IPTF and other branches of the United Nations to operate effectively in Bosnia and Herzegovina depends largely upon the presence on the ground of a credible military force. Cooperation between SFOR and the United Nations is presently excellent. It is in large part owing to the support provided by SFOR that IPTF has been able to make progress recently. Any serious erosion of the credibility of the military component would have an immediate and negative impact on key United Nations operations. In particular, the withdrawal or large-scale reduction of SFOR would render the position of IPTF in Bosnia and Herzegovina largely untenable and would affect negatively other vital United Nations operations, such as those of UNHCR. This situation, in which civilian work can only progress in the context of the continued presence of a credible international military force, is expected to continue for at least the coming year, i.e., during the consolidation period.

47. Another indispensable element to the success of the civilian operation is the willingness of Member States to intervene at the political level. This was demonstrated clearly in the case of IPTF's investigations into alleged human rights abuses by the local police forces. Following the release of the IPTF report on an attack perpetrated by the Bosnian Croat police in Mostar and the issuance of a presidential statement by the Security Council, one Member State intervened with the Bosnian Croat authorities and with those of the Republic of Croatia. That intervention, coupled with United Nations action on the ground, can be credited with bringing about positive changes in Mostar. While the situation in the city remains difficult, it is undeniable that it has improved significantly.

48. The agreement on the Neretva Canton Police, which involved long negotiations to resolve difficult political issues between the Federation partners, illustrates a welcome trend towards cooperation and problem solving. This improved climate provides the context for the next phase of IPTF activity, particularly in the area of police reform.

49. On the other hand, the refusal of the Republika Srpska Government to cooperate fully with IPTF in the implementation of its mandate is a matter of great concern. A concerted effort by the international community is required to ensure compliance by the Government of the Republika Srpska with all elements of annex 11 to the General Framework Agreement for Peace.

50. Finally, I wish to stress that, in addition to political support required from Governments, financial support, both for the Police Assistance Programme and for the Mine Action Centre, is urgently required to enable the mission to accomplish its goals.

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Footnote:

1. The number of civilian police monitors may vary owing to rotations.