The High Representative today urged RS Police Director Dragomir Andan publicly to retract the comments he made at a press conference on 10 May, and give a clear commitment to the citizens of BiH that such an incident will never happen again.
In a letter sent to Mr Andan, the HR expressed deep concern over the findings of an EUPM report, released today. EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty had instructed his staff to conduct an inquiry into allegations made by Mr Andan that the fuses used in the 2004 Madrid commuter train attacks were produced in BiH.
“I am extremely concerned by the Commissioner’s conclusions,’’ said the High Representative. “It is clear from his report that Mr Andan made these claims without having any firm evidence.’’
The High Representative said that Mr Andan’s allegations appear to be political in character, and damage the reputation of the RS institution he represents. “The damage that these accusations have done to BiH, and in particular to the RS’s reputation, is considerable. This was a clear example of policing interfering in politics: precisely what police reform in BiH is designed to prevent.’’
He asked Mr Andan to write a letter to Commissioner Carty by 6 June in which he will retract the statements he made at the press conference, acknowledge that they were made on the basis of no evidence, and undertake not to make any further politically motivated statements.
The EUPM’s report concluded that Mr Andan had failed to substantiate his claims with any evidence whatsoever.