EUROPEAN POLICE LIKELY TO ARRIVE IN BOSNIA IN OCTOBER

SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, July 4 (Hina) - The termination of the mandate of the UN Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (UNMBiH) will accelerate the arrival of police forces from the European Union, the Banja Luka-based "Nezavisne Novine" daily said on Thursday. #L# The deputy head of the Bosnian mission to the United Nations, Milos Prica was quoted by the daily as saying that the establishment of the EU police mission (EUPM) in Sarajevo can be expected in October. According to previous plans, the EU should take over the control over local police in Bosnia on 1 January 2003. "I think the international community in cooperation with the Bosnian entities' authorities, will find a solution for the period between July and October," Prica said. Earlier this week, Bosnia's three-man Presidency announce it might conclude bilateral agreements with EU member-countries whose police officers had already been deployed in Bosnia within the UN' International Police Task Force (IPTF). This move will provide the legal conditions for the stay of the police officers in the period between the UN's departure and the formal beginning of the EUPM. The UN Security Council on Wednesday night decided to extend the UN mission in Bosnia by 15 July. Prica was quoted by the daily as saying that Bosnian diplomats in the mission to the United Nations were given no opportunity for taking part in a discussion the Security Council held on the prolongation of the World Organisation's mission in their country. They could only watch the American ambassador, on one side, and the British and French ambassadors, on the other side, arguing over it, Prica said. (hina) ms