NATO could leave Bosnia

NATO defense ministers in Munich, Germany, Feb. 6 discussed the possibility of pulling all NATO peacekeeping troops out of Bosnia by the end of this year. In a press conference here this evening, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the possible termination of the Stabilization Force mission and a follow-on force of European Union troops was a topic of discussion. "This is important for NATO, and it's also important for the Bosnian people," Rumsfeld said. "Our objective is to help the Bosnian government re-establish full sovereignty and self-government." NATO forces have been in Bosnia since the Dayton Accords brokered an end to civil war there in late 1995. A senior U.S. official speaking on background explained that Bosnia doesn't need SFOR any longer. The European Union has offered to replace NATO peacekeepers with a mixed police and military force. U.S. officials would like to see a small NATO headquarters, led by an American two-star general, remain in Sarajevo.