SKOPJE, Dec 15 (Hina) - A European Union police mission formally replaced the EU military mission in Macedonia on Monday.
SKOPJE, Dec 15 (Hina) - A European Union police mission formally
replaced the EU military mission in Macedonia on Monday. #L#
The handover ceremony was attended by Javier Solana in his capacity
as high representative of the international community.
Last Friday the Macedonian parliament unanimously approved the
deployment of the 200-strong EU police force called Proxima.
The police force replaced the 350-strong military mission called
Concordia, whose mandate expired on December 15.
The aim of the police mission is to assist the Macedonian police in
developing European standards in the police service. It will have
an advisory role in combating organised crime, implementing police
reforms and building the confidence of the local population in the
police.
The EU will also be politically present in Macedonia through its
special representative, as well as through technical and financial
aid, Solana said.
In addition to police officers from the European Union, the police
mission includes representatives of the United States, Norway,
Iceland, Turkey, Canada, Russia, Ukraine and Switzerland.
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