It is impossible to do this big job in a country lije Bosnia and not make mistakes, Ashdown said without explaining what he was referring to.
The Bosnian media criticised Ashdown for cooperating with the three ruling national parties - the Croatian Democratic Union, the Party of the Democratic Action and the Serb Democratic Party, adding that he obstructed the development of a stronger opposition in Bosnia.
Ashdown said Bosnia was at the gate of NATO and the European Union, stressing that the main structures of a modern and decentralised state had been presented during his mandate in Bosnia.
He will be succeeded by Christian Schwartz-Schilling who will step into office on January 31.