BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY SUPPORTS TRANSFER OF COMMAND AUTHORITY FROM NATO TO EU

SARAJEVO, Feb 12 (Hina) - The Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency supported on Thursday the transfer of command authority over the peace mission to the country from NATO to the European Union, on condition that its mandate be similar to that of the existing Stabilisation Force (SFOR).#L# Presidency member Sulejman Tihic told reporters the Presidency concluded the mandate of European troops, due to succeed SFOR later this or early next year, should be defined by a United Nations Security Council resolution. According to announcements from Brussels, the European Union's military mission to Bosnia would function on the basis of the Berlin Plus agreement, which envisages close cooperation with NATO in case of serious military threats. The EU's operative command over troops in Bosnia would also be supported by a special NATO HQ in the country, which would be headed by a U.S. general. In light of the interest in keeping U.S. troops in Bosnia, the Bosnian Presidency decided today to appoint a liaison officer to the U.S. army HQ in Iraq. Tihic said the liaison officer would be in charge of negotiating the possible engagement of Bosnian troops in the Iraqi peace mission. "The way things are, we would probably send one mine-clearing unit," he said without indicating when that might happen. (Hina) ha sb