Today, EU Special Representative and High Representative Dr Christian Schwarz-Schilling met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. During the meetings he emphasized that supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress towards the EU and NATO will be a key priority during his mandate.

In his meeting with the Secretary-General of NATO, Dr Schwarz-Schilling said that he hopes that BiH will join NATO’s partnership for peace by the end of this year. “BiH has come a long way. However everything must be done in order to ensure full ICTY cooperation. In today’s meeting, I made it clear that I am ready to use my Bonn powers in order to support ICTY ,” said Dr Schwarz-Schilling, following the meeting.

During his meeting with the Enlargement Commissioner, Dr Schwarz-Schilling expressed his hope that BiH will be able to complete the SAA negotiations with the EU within one year. In his remarks following the meeting, he commended the BiH authorities for undertaking the necessary reforms in order to open the negotiations. At the same time, he noted that he and the Commissioner agreed that the success of the SAA talks will depend on the ability of the BiH authorities to implement the necessary reforms.

“Quick progress towards completing the SAA negotiations will require determination and commitment on behalf of the BiH authorities. In particular, it will depend on the willingness of the politicians to implement police and public broadcasting reform. And it will require full cooperation with ICTY,” said Dr Schwarz-Schilling.

“I have come to BiH as a friend. But I can only help BiH if the authorities honour their commitments and carry through the necessary reforms,” he added.

In addition, Dr Schwarz-Schilling had meetings with various officials of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.