Sarajevo, 30 August (AKI) - American troops stationed in northeastern Bosnian town of Tuzla will leave the country by the end of this year, but will be replaced by a Dutch contingent, Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje said on Wednesday. The paper said that one hundred members of Texas National Guard, stationed in the military base “Orao” in Tuzla were beginning to dismantle their facilities and will start leaving by the end of November. The international community has kept a strong presence in Bosnia, safeguarding peace, since the end of civil war in 1995. Last year NATO troops were replaced by 7,000 strong force from European countries (Eufor), but NATO has retained a command post in Bosnia.
Oslobodjenje said Bosnian authorities were concerned by the American departure, because they see the United States as their main ally and guarantor of Bosnia’s security. But the American embassy in Sarajevo said the departure was a result of “exceptional progress that Bosnia-Herzegovina has achieved in the past several years. The United States will continue a strong presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the region and be actively included in aiding Bosnia-Herzegovina joining Partnership for Peace, with further striving to NATO membership,” the embassy said in a statement. |