MIROSLAV LAJCAK: POLICE REFORM IN BOSNIA CANNOT BE IMPOSED FROM OUTSIDE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 5,2007) – The international community's high representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak said that the entire international community stands behind his proposal on police reform and that this proposal represents a compromise.

In an interview to Bosnian daily “Dnevni Avaz”, Lajcak said that this document provides an opportunity for an agreement to be reached, but also to “all negotiators to save face”.

“If there is willingness to reach an agreement, then that can be done based on what has been offered. If there is no such willingness then you do not need excuses”, Lajcak said.

He stressed that the end of September is the final deadline for police reform in Bosnia and that he soon expects political leaders to present their comments on the proposed document on police reform.

“What Bosniak and Serb politicians have done shows that they give greater importance to their narrow party interests than the interests of the citizens of this country”, Lajcak said and added that the police reform in Bosnia cannot be imposed from the outside.

He said that it is important to unblock the process of stabilization and association with the EU and start constitutional changes that will define Bosnia as a modern European state.