WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, March 4 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday Bosnia would have to accelerate the reform process if it wanted
to join NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union.
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, March 4 (Hina) - The international community's
High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, told the UN
Security Council on Wednesday Bosnia would have to accelerate the
reform process if it wanted to join NATO's Partnership for Peace
programme and sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the
European Union.#L#
Speaking about the situation in Bosnia, Ashdown said the country was
exiting the Dayton period and entering a period of integration into
the European Union and NATO.
NATO has made it clear that Bosnia could join the Partnership for
Peace programme at a NATO summit in Istanbul in June if it implements
the defence reform and improves cooperation with the Hague war crimes
tribunal. The European Union has set a number of conditions before
Bosnia for negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement, which the authorities in Bosnia hope to meet by the end of
May.
Speaking about regional relations, Ashdown praised Croatia saying that
after his recent visit to Zagreb he was confident the new government
would continue to support the independent Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Commenting on Serbia's home affairs after recent elections at which
nationalists won a significant number of seats in parliament, Ashdown
voiced concern.
The international community is looking at Zagreb with trust and at
Belgrade with anxiety, Ashdown said.
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