”The United States (U.S.) welcomes the move by the United Nations (UN) Security Council to unanimously renew the mandate of the EUFOR operation Althea, ” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price announced yesterday.
“Rooted in the Dayton Peace Agreement, EUFOR’s Althea operation remains key to maintaining the stability, sovereignty,and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),” Price noted.
He recalled that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) is a civilian mission corresponding to EUFOR Althea.
“It also plays a key role in ensuring stability in BiH, supporting the rule of law, and helping to reform democratic institutions to improve the progress of BiH on its chosen Euro-Atlantic path,” Price emphasized.
“The U.S. fully supports HR Christian Schmidt and his ability to exercise all necessary powers, including the Bonn powers, until the 5 + 2 Agenda is completed and BiH is a peaceful, sovereign,state, with territorial integrity and certainly on the path to European integration, “ he said.
“The HR and his Office deserve the full support of the international community in this task. We are sorry that the Security Council could not hear HR Schmidt during the discussion of his report at the session at which Resolution 2604 was adopted.
“The U.S. strongly supports the BiH government because it seeks to consolidate multiethnic democracy and strengthen democratic institutions, combat corruption, as well as to provide economic opportunities for all people,” Price stated.
E.Dz.
Source: N1
