Eufor Raids Hague Fugitive Helper’s Home in Northern Bosnia

Text of report by Bosnia-Hercegovina public radio on 28 September

[Presenter] At the request of the international tribunal in The Hague, Eufor [EU Force] this morning searched facilities in Maglajani near Gradiska belonging to Boro Pekez, who is believed to be linked to the support network of [Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect] Stojan Zupljanin.

This is Eufor’s second action in the past few days, and, as was the case during the search of the family home of Mirko Sarovic last Friday, certain objects have been seized and are to be forwarded for further analysis. Dragan Maksimovic has the report:

[Reporter Maksimovic] Eufor this morning searched facilities belonging to Boro Pekez in Maglajani between Banja Luka and Gradiska with the aim of finding material which might help the Hague tribunal locate and arrest indictees and apply pressure on their support networks. Eufor said that Boro Pekez was believed to be linked to Stojan Zupljanin’s support network. Spokesman for Eufor’s main headquarters Dave Philder [as heard] confirmed that the action was over and that certain objects had been seized from Boro Pekez’s home. As was the case during last week’s search of Mirko Sarovic’s home, Philder could not disclose any details of today’s action.

[Philder in English with vernacular voice-over] Yes, this is the second operation, we did one last Friday which was aimed at smashing Radovan Karadzic’s support network. This one is related to Stojan Zupljanin’s network.

We are working at the request of the international tribunal in The Hague and conducting searches on the basis of their information.

[Reporter] According to Eufor, this operation has a legal basis in the mandates of the Hague tribunal, Eufor and NATO, given to them in line with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Framework Agreement for Bosnia-Hercegovina. Dragan Maksimovic reporting for BH Radio 1.

Originally published by BH Radio 1, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 1300 28 Sep 07.

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