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.