Foreign Judges Prosecutors to stay in Bosnia - partial good news says Wallis

4.43.40pm GMT Thu 17th Dec 2009

The top international official in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzlok, has announced that he has extended the mandate of foreign judges and prosecutors at Bosnia's state court. The mandate, due to expire at the end of the December, has been extended for those handling war crimes for three more years. However, those in charge of corruption, organised crime and terrorism will become advisers to local staff.

Commenting today on the announcement from Bosnia, Diana Wallis, a Vice President of the European Parliament and a member of the Legal Affairs Committee, said:

"This is only very partial good news. In reality it looks like a very bad compromise. International judges dealing with other cases particularly crime and corruption will only continue if supported by the respective states. These judges are desperately needed both for Bosnia and the wider region. Europe must not turn its focused attention away from Bosnia; the European Union looked the other way once before and the consequences were grave."