BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER ON TRANSFER OF INT. POLICE MISSION TO EU

MOSTAR, Dec 14 (Hina) - The Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dragan Covic, has voiced satisfaction with the European Union's decision to take over the international police mission and possibly the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia- Herzegovina. #L# The changes would open the door to European associations to the entire region, Covic said upon return from a session of the UN Security Council which marked the end of the UN police mission in Bosnia. "This is exactly what we have been advocating. Along with such authorities of the European community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the next year we will have to implement reforms so that the door to Europe could be opened wide to 'the Balkan package'," Covic said in a phone interview with the media in Mostar. He stated that most ambassadors from western European countries at the UN believed that the EU should take over responsibility for security in the Balkans, but the United States would remain engaged in the process of securing stability and peace in the region. Covic expects that during their four-year mandate domestic authorities would gradually take over all responsibilities in cooperation with the international community, "so that the High Representative no longer has to make decisions in our stead". Covic reiterated that the new authorities were faced with the difficult task of securing equality for all three peoples, as well as establishing economic stability and respect for human rights. (hina) rml