George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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The “Spirit of Freedom served as the platform for a history-making assembly of international political leadership February 19 when the senior members of the Joint Military Commission boarded the aircraft carrier for a discussion concerning the status of the peacekeeping mission in the Balkans region. Adm. Leighton Smith, Commander of the NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR), accompanied by the leaders of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Army and Croatian Counsel of Defense, convened on board GW after significant progress was made at a political summit in Rome the preceding weekend. Conspicuous in his absence from the meeting was Maj. Gen. Zivkor Tolimir, Deputy Commander of the Army of the Republic of Srpska, who was scheduled to attend. Adm. Smith expressed his regret over Tolimir's decision to skip the meeting. but stressed that the peace process would coninue with or without the cooperation of the Serb Army. Smith took a brief tour of the ship and addressed GkVs crew, saying he relished the feeling of being back aboard a U.S. Navy vessel. “This Navy admiral still hasn’t gotten used to being on the ground in a landlocked country that hasn't got a navy. he said. “So it's good to be out here with you. GW hosts Joint Military Commission Joint Military Commission 43

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FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 1,1996