EU WELCOMES REPORT BY OSCE MISSION TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

STOCKHOLM, March 8 (Hina) - The European Union on Thursday welcomed a report by the head of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Barry, and called for further implementation of the Dayton agreement with the aim of strengthening stability in the country. The EU said it appreciated Barry's meaningful and comprehensive report on progress made in the setting up of the state government and the operation of the OSCE Mission. It also supported the mission's work in the fields of democratisation, human rights and media, read a statement the Swedish EU Presidency issued in Stockholm on Barry's report, submitted to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Wednesday. The EU reminds of its statement of February 22 welcoming the establishment of Bosnia's new Council of Ministers, which it called to without delay implement serious reforms necessary for improving the social and economic situation in the country. The EU is ready to assist in these efforts and in that sense emphasises the importance of regional cooperation as envisaged by the Zagreb Summit. The EU reminds of the need to adopt a permanent electoral law as soon as possible so that it could be applied at the 2002 elections, read the statement. Cautioning about some less positive events, the EU condemned the one-sided moves of the so-called Croat National Assembly of Bosnia- Herzegovina which it said went beyond the Dayton/Paris agreements, and supported High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch's decision to replace Ante Jelavic as a member of the B-H Presidency. The EU called on Bosnian Croats to protect their legitimate interests through legal institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The EU agrees with Barry's assessment that it is necessary to introduce transparency in the military segment of the state budget and further slash military expenses, the statement said. (hina) sb rml