Rehn: Bosnia closer to SAA

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is in Sarajevo this Monday. Rehn said he is ready to initial a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia-Herzegovina if its leaders convince him of positive developments in the country. Rehn: Bosnia closer to SAA Rehn arrived on a two-day official visit to Bosnia after Bosnian political leaders found a solution last Friday to a nearly two-month crisis that halted its progress towards European integration. Last month Bosnian political leaders also agreed to continue work on stalled police reforms, set as one of the preconditions for rapprochement with the EU. Before its meeting with Rehn, Bosnia's central government on Monday adopted an action plan earlier agreed by the political leaders to continue with police reform, hoping it would satisfy basic requirements for initialing the SAA agreement. "I want to welcome progress achieved last Friday by the parliament of your country ... which contributed to the stabilization of the situation in the country," Rehn told reporters in Sarajevo. The leaders of the country, he said, now have a chance to use positive momentum and take the next step - police reform. During the first day of his visit Rehn is to meet with Bosnia's tripartite state presidency, the chairman of the government and then with the leaders of political parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He would then decide if there was a satisfactory agreement on police reform, he said, adding that "if this is the case, I am ready to initial the SAA agreement tomorrow." Rehn also said he remained "committed to the European future of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its people." "I want to see Bosnia-Herzegovina on the road towards the EU," he said. Olli Rehn in Sarajevo today (Beta)

Rehn: Bosnia closer to SAA

Rehn arrived on a two-day official visit to Bosnia after Bosnian political leaders found a solution last Friday to a nearly two-month crisis that halted its progress towards European integration.

Last month Bosnian political leaders also agreed to continue work on stalled police reforms, set as one of the preconditions for rapprochement with the EU.

Before its meeting with Rehn, Bosnia's central government on Monday adopted an action plan earlier agreed by the political leaders to continue with police reform, hoping it would satisfy basic requirements for initialing the SAA agreement.

"I want to welcome progress achieved last Friday by the parliament of your country ... which contributed to the stabilization of the situation in the country," Rehn told reporters in Sarajevo.

The leaders of the country, he said, now have a chance to use positive momentum and take the next step - police reform.

During the first day of his visit Rehn is to meet with Bosnia's tripartite state presidency, the chairman of the government and then with the leaders of political parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He would then decide if there was a satisfactory agreement on police reform, he said, adding that "if this is the case, I am ready to initial the SAA agreement tomorrow."

Rehn also said he remained "committed to the European future of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its people."

"I want to see Bosnia-Herzegovina on the road towards the EU," he said.