Press Release (97)97 30 August 1997

Statement by the North Atlantic Council The North Atlantic Council met today to continue its consideration of the developing situation in the Republika Srpska. It reaffirmed yesterday's statement by the Secretary General condemning recent violence and confirming that SFOR will continue to carry out its mission firmly but fairly and will not tolerate the use of force or intimidation. Council responded positively to a request by the High Representative to authorize SFOR to provide the necessary support to suspend or curtail any media network or programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina whose output is in persistent and blatant contradiction of either the spirit or the letter of the Peace Agreement, in accordance with the Sintra Declaration. In addition, Council reaffirmed that SFOR will not hesitate to take the necessary measures including the use of force against media inciting attacks on SFOR or other international organizations.