SARAJEVO/MOSTAR, July 13 (Hina) - High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown and the country's joint presidency on Saturday welcomed a decision by the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN Mission to Bosnia
until the end of the year, when the mission would be taken over by the European Union.
SARAJEVO/MOSTAR, July 13 (Hina) - High Representative for Bosnia-
Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown and the country's joint presidency on
Saturday welcomed a decision by the UN Security Council to extend
the mandate of the UN Mission to Bosnia until the end of the year,
when the mission would be taken over by the European Union. #L#
High Representative Ashdown said in a statement the decision on the
extension of the mandate was the best outcome for Bosnia-
Herzegovina. He believes it is particularly important that the
decision enables the continuation of the mandate of international
police forces and its take-over by the EU at the beginning of next
year.
Ashdown welcomed the conduct of BH politicians and thanked the EU
for its willingness to take over the UN mission.
The BH Presidency believes that the extension of the UN mandate
indicates the international community's permanent interest in
being present in the country and the consistent implementation of
the Dayton agreement, Presidency spokesman Boris Kujundzic said.
The Presidency believes that the continuation of the mission is of
exceptional importance for the functioning of the state border
service, a project of protection of personal data, and a long-term
reform of the country's police forces.
(hina) rml