10/06/2005 OHR Sarajevo

Statement: OHR welcomes RSNA vote on police reform

The vote in the RSNA this evening is good news.

There must be no confusion about what this means. The words speak for themselves. Within five years BiH will have a single integrated police service at the state level, and local police areas which will cross the IEBL in the limited areas where it is technically necessary.

Provided that BiH’s other Parliaments now meet the three EC principles for police reform, a crucial step will have been taken towards enabling the European Commission to recommend the launch of SAA negotiations this year.