02 January 2003
Completion of U.N. Mission in Bosnia Draws U.S. Praise
(Boucher expresses support as EU takes over police monitoring duties)
(240)
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher issued a statement marking
the final day of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and
congratulating the United Nations, the UN Secretary-General's Special
Representative Jacques Klein, and the people of Bosnia "for their
extraordinary work during this time."
Following is his statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 2, 2003
Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: COMPLETION OF UN MANDATE
December 31, 2002 marked the final day of the UN Mission in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, including the International Police Task Force. We
congratulate the United Nations, the Secretary-General's Special
Representative Jacques Klein, and certainly the people of Bosnia, for
their extraordinary work during this time. Together, they improved the
professionalism and structure of the law enforcement community in
Bosnia and Herzegovina and successfully enabled the mission to close.
On January 1, 2003 the European Union Police Mission took over
international police monitoring duties in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
United States strongly supports this undertaking and urges Bosnia and
Herzegovina to continue on the path of reform as a full-fledged
partner in the global democratic community.
The successful transfer of this core mission from the United Nations
to the European Union demonstrates fulfillment of President Bush's
campaign pledge and commitment to promote better burden sharing in the
Balkans.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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