U.S., EU warn Bosnia to start reforms

The U.S. and EU delivered tough warnings to Bosnia Wednesday to halt nationalistic rhetoric and start essential reforms.

Izvor: AP

Thursday, 17.05.2007.

10:03

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U.S., EU warn Bosnia to start reforms

Bosnia has been divided in two mini-states - one for the Christian Orthodox Serbs and the other shared by Muslims and Roman Catholic Croats - since the Dayton peace agreement ended the 1992-95 war there. Federal institutions remain too weak to effectively govern the country.

Bosnian Serbs who want to keep the division are blocking a proposed merger of the country's two police forces, a condition for Bosnia to sign Stabilization and Association agreement, a major step toward EU membership.

The international community's outgoing high representative in Bosnia, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, said that a resurgence of nationalist rhetoric and ``confrontational attitudes'' from leaders on both sides ``has created a hostile political environment,'' and blocked reforms.

Britain's deputy UN Ambassador Karen Pierce also criticized ``the pernicious actions'' of leaders from all ethnic groups for blocking reforms.

The U.S. and the EU welcomed a speech to the council by Nikola Špirić, chairman of Bosnia's Council of Ministers, who emphasized his commitment to police, defense and constitutional reforms and to promoting political dialogue and ending the divisions in the country.

``It is incumbent on all of Bosnia's leaders to set aside destabilizing rhetoric and focus on issues that matter for the welfare of Bosnia's citizens,'' U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said. ``Unless reforms get back on track soon, Bosnia risks falling behind its neighbors as they move closer to the EU and to NATO.''

Germany's UN Ambassador Thomas Matussek, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told the council that Bosnia must improve public administration, implement police reform, cooperate with the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal and promote constitutional reform.

Matussek called on all political leaders to assume responsibility ``in a clear, immediate and determined way, and overcome the current lack of progress.''

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