SARAJEVO - Ten years after the end of the Bosnian war peacekeepers here are shifting their focus from conflict prevention to fighting organized crime and corruption.
"Solving the problem of organized crime is a long term project. But EUFOR can make a difference," EU Stabilization Force commander David Leakey told journalists Tuesday.
He said that EUFOR troops have played a key role in seizures of drugs and many other smuggled goods.
"Our troops are mobile and deployable anywhere ... We can use our helicopters, our surveillance capabilities and our capacity to undertake operations for long periods in support of the police," Leakey added.
Since the fear of bloodshed has been minimized, peacekeepers can now use their sophisticated equipment to protect one of Bosnia's greatest resources - its forests.
"We have used helicopters to discover areas of illegal deforestation. Our night viewing devices enable soldiers to intercept logging trucks moving at night until relevant authorities are on site," he said.
Leakey said EUFOR had been involved in checking more than 230 sawmills and 500 logging lorries resulting in 22 prosecutions.
The 7,000-strong EUFOR took over peacekeeping in Bosnia from NATO in December, and its mandate includes fighting organized crime as well as tracking down war crimes fugitives.
Peacekeepers have however so far been unable to capture some of the most wanted fugitives.
05/24/2005 15:36 GMT