Russia abstains during vote to extend EUFOR mandate

Source: Tanjug

NEW YORK -- Russia has abstained during a UN Security Council vote to extend the mandate of EU's military mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina for another year.

The remaining four members of the council voted in favor.
Russia's decision to decline to support the peacekeeping force was the first of the kind in 14 years.

The AP reported that Tuesday's vote came after the United States and the EU last week welcomed a German-British proposal to move Bosnia closer to EU membership, something that would "postpone action on the complicated issue of minority rights while Bosnia moves ahead with reforming its economy and strengthening the rule of law."

But Russia's UN Ambassador Churkin "rejected the proposal saying any movement by Bosnia toward the EU cannot be forced from the outside."

High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina Valentin Inzko "spoke bluntly about the need to change the vicious downward cycle of tit-for-tat politics and warned those pushing for secession that the country's borders won't be redrawn," the agency said in its report.

Inzko also said the country "faces a decisive four years ahead after elections in October."