Minister Cowen Welcomes Appointment of Senior Garda Officer as Head of EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaking at today’s EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels, has welcomed the Council’s unanimous decision to appoint Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty to the position of Head of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUPM).

Minister Cowen said: “Assistant Commissioner Carty was a very strong candidate and I congratulate him on his appointment.

The EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Union’s first under European Security and Defence Policy, remains a very important element of the EU’s overall contribution to peace and stability in that country and in the wider region.

Assistant Commissioner Carty’s role will therefore be a highly significant one.

His appointment confirms the high international esteem for An Garda Síochána and their contributions to international police missions.”

Note for Editors:

The Council’s decision to appoint Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty as the next Head of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina was taken on the basis of a recommendation made by Secretary General/High Representative Javier Solana and with the unanimous approval of EU Member States. The appointment will commence formally on 1 March and is for one year, with option to renew.

The EU Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Union’s first operation under European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), was launched on 1 January 2003 in succession to the outgoing UN International Police Task Force (UN IPTF). It is scheduled to run until the end of 2005. EUPM’s specific policing tasks have involved monitoring, mentoring, inspection, training and technical support to the local police authorities. The mission has no executive powers and the international police officers are unarmed. Further details are available via the EUPM website – www.eupm.org

In his capacity as Head of EUPM, Assistant Commissioner Carty will be charged with overseeing some 470 international police officers (including three from An Garda Síochána) and 60 civilian personnel. He can be expected to work closely with the authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina at both national and local levels. He will also be required to liase closely with High Representative under the Dayton Accords/EU Special Representative Lord Ashdown and with other international actors.

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