SARAJEVO, Jan 1 (Hina) - The European Union Police Mission (EUPM) on Wednesday took over duties which the UN International Police Task Force (IPTF) had performed in the past seven years in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
SARAJEVO, Jan 1 (Hina) - The European Union Police Mission (EUPM) on
Wednesday took over duties which the UN International Police Task
Force (IPTF) had performed in the past seven years in Bosnia-
Herzegovina. #L#
Prior to the launch of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia, the European
Union expressed satisfaction with the fact that this was the first
operation of the European police, which would be carried out in
Bosnia within the Common European Security and Foreign Policy
(PESC).
The EU is glad to see that police officers from 18 countries which
are not EU members will take part in the operation, which shows that
the international community has equal stands concerning the
establishment of peace and the rule-of-law in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The unarmed forces of the EUPM, whose mandate expires in 2005,
include 512 police officers and civilian staff. Of them, 422 will be
from EU members and 90 from third countries.
In addition, there will be about 50 international civil experts and
approximately 300 local police officers.
The EU High Representative for foreign and security policy, Javier
Solana, welcomed the beginning of the work of European police
officers as the expression of Europe's strong and joint will.
On the last day of its mandate, the UN mission in Bosnia (UNMIBH)
assessed that it had successfully conducted the police reform in
that country.
(hina) ms