Prague, 13/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Prague on 12 March, EU defence ministers took a stance in favour of reconfiguring the EU-led military operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR Althea) to make it a non-executive support training operation for the Bosnian Army. It now remains to be seen when this informal decision will be implemented. The United Kingdom, which is supported by a small group of other EU member states (such as Slovakia and Bulgaria) that fear reconfiguration of the operation will deprive the international community's high representative (HR) of the military support needed for exercise of his authority, still makes a connection between closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and reconfiguration of the operation. In the meantime, the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which includes the United States, Russia and Turkey, will be meeting on 25 and 26 March. It is expected to appoint Valentin Inzko to the post of EU Special Representative for Bosnia Herzegovina.
Reconfiguration of Althea, which is the only operation conducted within the Berlin + framework (using NATO assets and capabilities), would mean numbers would be reduced from the current 2,200 to around 200. This reduction will be accompanied by a new mandate geared to consultation, instruction and training. According to the scenario chosen, the Berlin + command format would be maintained, making it possible to maintain the link between the EU and NATO and perhaps also to maintain participation by Turkey, which currently contributes to the operation. The CONOPS (concept of operations) being developed should nonetheless ensure that this new ESDP operation does not encroach upon the mission for training of the Bosnian armed forces already set in place by NATO.
Addressing the press, Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova said all ministers “agreed that, from the military point of view, the tasks (of Althea) had been fulfilled” but that the decision should still be discussed with other countries and foreign ministers. She nonetheless stressed that the defence ministers consider such reconfiguration “should not be postponed”. “Member states should refrain from unilateral withdrawal”, she warned with reference to France and the Netherlands, which have begun redeployment of their contingents. Summarising the results of the meeting, the president-in-office of the EU Council also stressed that political reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet been completed. With a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) signed and an interim agreement already in force, it is a matter of seeking the “the right way of bringing this country to the EU”, she said. (A.By./transl.jl)