SARAJEVO, July 12 (Hina) - Bosnia's accession to the Partnership for Peace programme will be the main topic of talks NATO Secretary-General George Robertson and ambassadors in the NATO Permanent Council are to hold with
representatives of Bosnian authorities on Friday. Earlier this week the Bosnian Presidency adopted a statement on joining the NATO programme. The intention was to emphasise the authorities' willingness to achieve this goal as soon as possible. The statement's content has not been disclosed, although the three-man Presidency's Bosniak member, Beriz Belkic, said it was the first official step towards launching proceedings and applying for admission. "Our statement says there is a uniform political will to finally start with preparations for admission to 'Partnership for Peace'," Belkic told Banja Luka's Nezavisne novine daily. He added Bosnia could join the programme "in the second half of 2002."
SARAJEVO, July 12 (Hina) - Bosnia's accession to the Partnership
for Peace programme will be the main topic of talks NATO Secretary-
General George Robertson and ambassadors in the NATO Permanent
Council are to hold with representatives of Bosnian authorities on
Friday.
Earlier this week the Bosnian Presidency adopted a statement on
joining the NATO programme. The intention was to emphasise the
authorities' willingness to achieve this goal as soon as possible.
The statement's content has not been disclosed, although the three-
man Presidency's Bosniak member, Beriz Belkic, said it was the
first official step towards launching proceedings and applying for
admission.
"Our statement says there is a uniform political will to finally
start with preparations for admission to 'Partnership for Peace',"
Belkic told Banja Luka's Nezavisne novine daily. He added Bosnia
could join the programme "in the second half of 2002."
He maintains the basic prerequisite is that all state structures
realise the importance of the project. In the past, NATO officials
have warned that Bosnia's rapprochement with the Alliance depends
on the extent to and way in which the country will transform its
armed forces and defence mechanism.
The currently completely separated entity armed forces and the
virtual non-existence of any effective coordination of military
issues on the state level is unacceptable for NATO. Moreover,
authorities in the Bosnian Serb entity persist in refusing any
talks on the creation of a uniform state army, which is wholly
acceptable to Bosniaks and Croats.
Bosnian Serb President Mirko Sarovic has said that all, including
military, issues can be tackled only within the framework of the
entity and state constitutions, which mention the existence of the
two entities' armed forces.
(hina) ha sb