SARAJEVO, May 6 (Hina) - The international High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, has confirmed that this summer he is definitely leaving his office, which he held for the past two years. Deputy High
Representative Jacques Klein is also leaving Sarajevo with Westendorp. In an interview with the Sarajevo daily "Dnevni avaz", Westendorp said he had spent a lot of time in Bosnia-Herzegovina and his further stay in the country would mean that he himself was becoming a part of the problem. The Spanish diplomat said he was leaving for family reasons, but also for professional reasons, because he wanted to participate in the elections for the European Parliament, announced for June 13. Westendorp's successor is still not known, but the High Representative announced that the decision on that matter could be reached as early as June 5, when the heads of state and premiers of th
SARAJEVO, May 6 (Hina) - The international High Representative in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, has confirmed that this
summer he is definitely leaving his office, which he held for the
past two years.
Deputy High Representative Jacques Klein is also leaving Sarajevo
with Westendorp.
In an interview with the Sarajevo daily "Dnevni avaz", Westendorp
said he had spent a lot of time in Bosnia-Herzegovina and his
further stay in the country would mean that he himself was becoming
a part of the problem.
The Spanish diplomat said he was leaving for family reasons, but
also for professional reasons, because he wanted to participate in
the elections for the European Parliament, announced for June 13.
Westendorp's successor is still not known, but the High
Representative announced that the decision on that matter could be
reached as early as June 5, when the heads of state and premiers of
the Council for Peace Implementation countries are to meet in
Cologne.
Westendorp said the unwritten rule applied so far was that the
office of the High Representative could not be filled by a person
from a country which is also a Contact Group member.
Klein's deputy, on the other hand, will be determined by the US
administration.
The High Representative said he believed the Dayton agreement was a
good solution for Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, the implementation
of the agreement is possible only through the procedure as
envisaged by the BH Constitution, he added.
Commenting on the Kosovo crisis, Westendorp said that full
temporary protectorate was the only solution for the southern
Yugoslav province because Kosovo's independence was impossible, as
was some kind of its autonomy under Milosevic's regime.
The protectorate would have to last about five years, the High
Representative believes.
(hina) jn rml