Wednesday, April 23, 2008

EU EXPECTS TO SIGN SAA WITH BOSNIA NEXT MONTH

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 23,2008) - The European Union is aiming to sign an agreement with Bosnia on closer ties in May instead of this month as originally hoped, EU diplomats said yesterday.

They said the delay was linked to technical procedures needed to finalise the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the European Union, made possible after Bosnia agreed a long-awaited police reform earlier in April.

"These procedures take time," said one EU diplomat, noting the 27-member bloc had to formally confirm Bosnia had fulfilled all technical conditions for the SAA and translate the text into the various EU languages.

The upper house of the Bosnian State Parliament finally adopted a reform of its police,the outstanding precondition for an SAA pact,on April 16 after successive failed attempts.

The SAA is the gateway to the ultimate entry of all southeastern European states in the EU.
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