STIGLIC: THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES TO THE SIGNING OF THE SAA BETWEEN BOSNIA AND EU

NEW YORK, USA (May 20,2008) - Slovenia's U.N. Ambassador Sanja Stiglic, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told the U.N. Security Council yesterday that Bosnia's recent adoption of two important police reform laws was one of the conditions for the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.

Stiglic said the EU also noted progress in three other key priorities — building up Bosnia's public administration, implementing public broadcasting legislation, and cooperating with the international war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

"Thus, while there are still shortcomings, there are no obstacles to the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Bosnia, which will take place as soon as technical preparations are concluded," she said.

Stiglic said the agreement will provide the framework for Bosnia's relations with the EU and will be an essential element to ensure stability and strengthen dialogue within the country.

"We call on Bosnia to undertake all efforts to start the implementation of the agreement immediately after its signature," she said.

Stiglic told the UN Security Council that "constitutional reform is essential for the future of Bosnia."

"While it is not a precondition for concluding the Stabilization and Association Agreement, Bosnia will need an efficient, functional and affordable constitutional framework and sustainable state structures and institutions to meet the challenges of the European integration," she said.
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