BOSNIA POLICE HAS TO BE REFORMED IN NEXT THREE YEARS - EUPM HEAD

SARAJEVO, Jan 1 (Hina) - The head of the newly-established European Union Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia said in Sarajevo on Wednesday the EUPM's three-year mandate should result in the completion of reforms aimed at making Bosnia's police forces democratic. #L# The time has come to move forwards and put more responsibility on local authorities, said Sven Frederiksen. He added the EUPM would cooperate with local police and carefully monitor their work to make sure police served the Bosnia-Herzegovina people and acted in compliance with European standards. The EUPM today took over from the United Nations the task of monitoring and training local police in Bosnia. The EUPM is the first operation as part of Europe's joint security and defence policy. The EUPM wishes to help in the building of a highly professional and democratic local police which should bring Bosnia closer to Europe, said Frederiksen. The rule-of-law is key for the European Union as it is the only value that can place Bosnia firmly en route to Europe, he said. (hina) ha