LAJCAK DISCUSSED POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA WITH SENIOR US OFFICIALS

WASHINGTOM, USA (May 23,2008) - The international Community’s strategic goal in Bosnia is to see the country join both NATO and the EU as soon as possible.

Quick progress is therefore needed on meeting the five objectives and two conditions identified by the Peace Implementation Council in February 2008, the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák and senior US officials concluded during a series of meetings in Washington.

The United States Under-Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns and Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried expressed the US administration’s full support for the work of the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR).

Lajcak and US officials also welcomed recent progress on the reform agenda, in particular the adoption of police reform laws, which have paved the way for Bosnia to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.

The goal of the international community is to ensure a successful transition from OHR to a reinforced EU presence in Bosnia, Lajčák said.

US officials assured that the United States would remain fully engaged and committed to Bosnia throughout and beyond the transition process, the OHR said.
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