NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Hina) - Taking into consideration the circumstances in Bosnia-Herzegovina it is possible to see the completion of the mandate of the UN mission in that country. However, there is a lack of money to finish
successfully the mandate, the UN Secretary-General's High Representative to Bosnia, Jacques Klein, told the Security Council on Tuesday. We have a historic chance for the successful completion of a one-decade-long tragedy, Klein said adding that this objective should be accomplished regardless of occasional problems and stalemates. This American diplomat agreed with the assessment expressed in a report drawn up by Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the activities of the UNMBiH mission could end in December 2002. Democratic changes which first took place in Croatia and recently in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) give the reason for the optimism, Klein stre
NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Hina) - Taking into consideration the
circumstances in Bosnia-Herzegovina it is possible to see the
completion of the mandate of the UN mission in that country.
However, there is a lack of money to finish successfully the
mandate, the UN Secretary-General's High Representative to Bosnia,
Jacques Klein, told the Security Council on Tuesday.
We have a historic chance for the successful completion of a one-
decade-long tragedy, Klein said adding that this objective should
be accomplished regardless of occasional problems and stalemates.
This American diplomat agreed with the assessment expressed in a
report drawn up by Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the activities
of the UNMBiH mission could end in December 2002.
Democratic changes which first took place in Croatia and recently
in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) give the reason for the
optimism, Klein stressed and asked the UN Security Council members
to support an idea that Sarajevo would host a summit of heads of
state of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the FRY.
He also spoke about projects of the UN mission in Bosnia. He was sure
they were feasible provided that the there was enough money and a
favourable political atmosphere for the work.
According to his report, the Secretary-General proposes a cut of
the International Police Task Force (IPTF) troops to 1,850.
Representatives of all 15 Security Council member-countries and
Bosnian diplomats took part in the discussion.
One of persons who participated in the debate on Bosnia-Herzegovina
was a U.S. Senator, John Biden, although it was not usual habit.
According to Biden, the events in Bosnia's neighbourhood give us
more than hope as these have been the changes which can help the
countries in the region to join the European mainstream.
The events in the region, particularly in Croatia and the FRY
together with Europe's readiness to take part in the Stability Fund
can meet the real necessity for the Balkans' accession in Europe,
Biden added.
The US Senator, the Senate's international relations committee
member, cautioned that premature discontinuation of the UN mission
and the withdrawal of international troops from Bosnia would ensure
only the recurrence of violence.
Biden analysed failures and lessons learned from the UN activities
in Bosnia. In this context, he advocated a serious change in peace
operations.
Biden also pointed to the grave mistake in the case of Srebrenica, a
former UN safe haven overrun by Serb troops in the summer 1995 when a
horrendous massacre took place in that eastern Bosnian town.
Therefore, the US senator suggested that peace troops must have
authorities and ability to defend themselves and people who they
should defend in their mission, and they also must have all
necessary equipment and be trained to fulfil their tasks.
(hina) ms