Ashdown admits Bosnia role may end soon

In an interview with the Financial Times, Paddy Ashdown, UN High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, admitted that his post may soon need to be phased out. Lord Ashdown has been criticised for his assertive style, and a report on the Balkans by former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, published in April 2005, concludes that the powers and activities of the High Representative have stifled the development of self-government in the divided Balkan state. Lord Ashdown plans to step down from his post at the end of 2005.