The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, today urged Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political leaders to adopt proposed defence reforms as soon as possible. The High Representative was speaking after a meeting earlier today between the Chairman of the Defence Reform Commission (DRC) and the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers. During the meeting, DRC Chairman James Locher presented Prime Minister Terzic with the Commission’s final report, signed by all the Commission members last Thursday, including the draft State-level Defence Law.
The High Representative, who also attended today’s meeting, said that in reaching this agreement the members of the Commission had forged a consensus that benefits everyone.
“It is now for the governments and parliaments to enact these reforms as soon as possible, as only in this way can BiH become a credible candidate for PfP,” the High Representative said. He noted that ministers from NATO member countries will meet in Brussels in December, when “if Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted these defence reforms, its application to join PfP will surely be viewed in a more positive light.