Every day lost in solving issue of police restructuring is a day won for criminals * Abolishing of visa regime will be discussed soon
EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs, Javier Solana, is a well known friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This politician with remarkable working experience gained in his homeland, Spain and in NATO and EU structures is an expert in the reform process which BiH must undertake in order to move closer to Euro-Atlantic structures.
He closely observes events in our country. Police Restructuring was the reason for this interview.
Historical agreement
Dnevni avaz: How do you see progress in police reform?
Javier Solana: BiH politicians reached a historic agreement on
Only when your parliaments have agreed a final political agreement can we regard the process as complete.
The meeting at Vlasic provided a structure which will vest legislative and budgetary competencies at state level. This would therefore meet the first EU principle and goes part of the way to ensure that there can be no political interference in operational policing. What remains now is for local police regions to be applied in functional areas, so as to achieve technically efficient policing. We hope to see progress in meeting all three principles as soon as possible.
Dnevni avaz: The SDS says they will not support police restructuring
Javier Solana: Unless the EU’s requirements are met, BiH cannot move forward.
Dnevni avaz: BH politicians are about to meet again to finalize the police reform issue. What would be your message to them?
Javier Solana: The time for action has now come. We cannot afford to remain blocked by theoretical discussions rooted in the politics of the past. We need to move forward. This is why Prime Minister Terzic and Lord Ashdown convened the Vlasic meeting.
Why this urgency? First, because every day lost in addressing police restructuring, is a day won by the criminal organisations. Second, because the Union will soon come to Sarajevo to assess progress in police restructuring, among other issues. Without significant progress, BiH cannot proceed in European integration.
Fair and impartial policing that is responsive to citizens’ needs is a cornerstone of modern democracy. Efficient policing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only important for your country. It is also important for the EU. We need to work together against trans-national crime. Bosnia and Herzegovina should become a strong EU partner in this.
That is why your politicians must see this reform through to the end. Without it BiH cannot progress towards the EU, and without it, criminals will continue to have the upper hand over your police and over your citizens.
Dnevni avaz: What kind of answer we can expect from the EC at the end of May?
Javier Solana: I certainly hope it will be positive. Otherwise, BiH would be in real danger of slipping behind its neighbours in the region. But if the conditions are met I believe the answer can be positive. That will have a clear and substantial positive effect on BiH.
Abolishing of visa regime
Dnevni avaz: If the EC’s answer is positive, most people in
Javier Solana: The argument that has been advanced by your leaders – who have been lobbying for a softening of the EU’s visa regime – can be helped by only a positive decision on the completion of BiH’s Feasibility Study. Rejection of police reform, by contrast, would send entirely the wrong signal.
Dnevni avaz: Do you see the situation in
Javier Solana: There has been a noticeable change in the attitude of the
Dnevni avaz: Debate is going on now in Bosnia on changing constitution. What is your opinion on that issue? Is EC going to assist Bosnia in changing constitution?
Javier Solana: The time will come when your politicians will agree that constitutional change is required – but change can only happen through your institutions and with the agreement of all three BiH peoples.
Special responsibility of RS
Dnevni avaz: One of the most sensitive issues is PIFWCs at large. What are you expecting both BiH authorities as well as EUFOR (and NATO) to do to overcome this?
Javier Solana: The responsibility for full co-operation with the ICTY rests with the BIH authorities, and with the RS authorities in particular. EUFOR and NATO are working together and will play a supporting role in accordance with their respective mandates. But this is a job for the BIH authorities, working together and with their colleagues in neighbouring states.
Karadzic and Mladic cannot stop reforms
Dnevni avaz: Carla del Ponte is hoping to resolve issue of Karadzic and Mladic by July 11th of this year. Do you share that hope?
Javier Solana: I would like to see both in