Bosnian leader calls for new EU envoy

(NOVI SAD) - The chairman of Bosnia's joint presidency called Friday for the post of the powerful international envoy in the country to be replaced by a European Union representative.

Speaking on the sidelines of a central European summit, Nebojsa Radmanovic said Bosnia was "convinced that all the goals and conditions" for its integration into the EU "could be fulfilled this year."

That "would lead to transformation of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) into the Special Representative of the European Union," Radmanovic said.

"Therefore, any scepticism regarding our eventual future, existing both in Bosnia and with representatives of the international community, would be removed," he said.

The peace deal that ended Bosnia's 1992-1995 war split the country into two semi-independent entities -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation.

It also created the post of the international envoy, who enjoys wide powers including the right to sack elected officials and impose laws.

The transformation of the post "would be a clear sign that Bosnia as a sovereign, democratic state, without the OHR, would be an equal competitor with other countries from our region in the process of the Euro-Atlantic integration," Radmanovic said.

The post of the international envoy was due to be phased out in 2007 but the mandate was extended because of political instability and the failure of local politicians to pass reforms.

Last year, Bosnia signed an EU trade and aid pact considered the first step for western Balkan countries hoping to join the 27-nation bloc.

However, its hopes of advancing along the long road to EU membership have been stalled by the political tensions, notably caused by nationalist rhetoric over the fate of its Serb entity.