BOSNIA DOESN'T EXPECT DETERIORATION OF RELATIONS WITH EU

SARAJEVO, May 21 (Hina) - The recent signing of an agreement with the United States on the non-extradition of American nationals to the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not harm relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the European Union, according to Bosnia's deputy foreign minister. #L# Explaining circumstances and conditions under which the deal was signed by Sarajevo and Washington, Deputy Minister Lidija Topic said on Wednesday that Bosnia respected the guidelines the EU gave countries which were asked by the U.S. to sign bilateral agreements on the status of the ICC and American citizens. She explained that the Bosnian side had incorporated eight out of a total of nine guidelines from Brussels in its bilateral agreement with the United States. Washington insisted only on the fact that all American nationals, besides those who may be engaged in Bosnia, be covered by the non- extradition deal. "Bosnia is the only one out of 30 countries, which have to date signed such an agreement with the United States, to have managed to amend the initial American proposal," Topic said. According to her, the reaction of the EU to Sarajevo's move was milder than it was when Albania, for instance, signed a similar agreement. Topic believes that it is realistic to expect that Bosnia will continue coming closer to the EU under the new circumstances, too. (hina) ms