SOLANA ADDRESSES E.U. FOREIGN MINISTERS ON POSSIBLE E.U. MILITARY MISSION TO BOSNIA

BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Hina) - The main goal of a planned European Union military mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would replace the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR), would be providing the country with assistance in its integration into the EU and NATO, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said in Brussels on Monday.#L# By providing such forces for Bosnia-Herzegovina, the main goal of the EU would be to contribute to Bosnia-Herzegovina's aspirations to fully integrate into the EU and NATO, Solana said in his report to EU foreign ministers on the possible deployment of European forces to Bosnia-Herzegovina. At an EU summit last year, European leaders expressed their readiness to take over the SFOR peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina from NATO. Solana said the EU mission would guarantee a safe environment, which he said was necessary for the fulfilment of goals set by the Office of the High Representative and for progress in the process of stabilisation and association with the EU. The completion of the EU mission would depend on the fulfilment of those goals and the creation of a viable state of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Solana said. EU forces would take over military responsibility for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and contribute to the fulfilment of the political goal of a stable, democratic and prosperous Bosnia-Herzegovina, Solana said in his report. He said that the success of the EU military operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina required the closest possible cooperation with NATO and the United States. In their conclusions, the EU foreign ministers stressed the importance of an agreement between the EU and NATO on their responsibility in Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Hina) vm sb