Mostar Civil Servants Appointments
OHR welcomes the appointment last week of further 133 civil servants
following their approval by the Federation Civil Service Agency. At this
point over 150 civil servants have been appointed to the City Administration of
Mostar.
OHR appreciates concern of some political figures who wanted further delay in
the appointments to try and establish a more detailed ethnic balance at this
interim stage. However these appointments could not be delayed any longer, given
that this process has already been underway for almost a year and the need to
recognize widespread concerns amongst the citizens who want to have a fully
functioning City Administration.
This is a good opportunity to remember that there is already a careful ethnic
balance in place for all managerial appointments and we would expect this
balance to be broadly maintained throughout the rest of the structure, in
accordance with Civil Servants Law. At this delicate time though, all
concerned must be very careful to ensure political considerations do not
interfere with Civil Servant Law procedure. This is especially important, as
this is the fist time the Civil Service Law is being used here in Mostar to
create such a large governmental structure.
The High Representative noted a number of Civil Service posts still remain
vacant due to a lack of qualified internal candidates. He has therefore advised
Mayor to proceed as quickly as possible to a program of external vacancy notices
through the Civil Service Agency. This process should provide the additional
skills capacity necessary to complete the last tranches of Civil Service
appointments and substantially comply with the ethnic balance requirements of
Article 2 of the Civil Service Law
OHR is confident that a fair balance will be achieved
once these additional posts are filled and we now look forward to Mayor
completing formation of remainder of
Economy Improving but Not Fast Enough – New Business Legislation a
Priority
I’ve brought along copies of OHR’s monthly economic report. As you know, this
brings together key economic data to provide a snapshot of the economy. The
picture continues to get steadily better – though to put that in perspective I
should emphasize that while the KM is exceptionally stable, inflation remains
negligible and exports are increasing, the most important barometers –
employment and living standards – remain stubbornly sluggish. BiH is still not
attracting investment in the volumes that it needs to start new businesses,
expand existing companies and create new jobs, and average salaries – 555 KM per
month in the Federation and 464 KM per month in the RS – provide for only
minimal livings standards.
So, this autumn, ministers and parliamentarians must apply themselves – as a
matter of the utmost priority – to improving BiH’s business environment. New
Business legislation, replacing the old Law on Obligations, should be enacted in
the coming months. This will introduce new consumer protection & advertising
rules, as well as rules that regulate e-commerce. The bottom line is to
attract more investment and create more jobs – so the sooner this
legislation is enacted, the better.
without further delay
in
Professor Hamid Ghodse, the President of the International Narcotics Control
Board (INCB). Discussion focused on concerns that current legislation in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, which is at the Entity-level only, together with outdated drug
control mechanisms, means that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not complying with
international narcotics controls to which it has subscribed.
Bosnia
and Herzegovina
has so far failed to introduce adequate controls over
acetic anhydride, a substance used to manufacture heroin. Seizure reports have
highlighted the fact that weaknesses in
Bosnia
and Herzegovina
institutions have turned the
country into a safe haven for illicit drug and chemical trafficking. Outdated
and fragmented legislation that is not applicable in the whole
territory of
Bosnia
and Herzegovina
, and outdated lists of internationally
controlled substances have been among the factors preventing effective action by
the authorities.
The High Representative told Prof. Ghodse that
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
has, however, started to address this problem. The Entity
Ministries of Health and Brcko District have, as a temporary measure – until the
adoption of a new comprehensive list – updated their lists of narcotic and
psychotropic substances and the plants that form the basis for drug
production.
The European Commission’s Feasibility Study states that Bosnia and
Herzegovina must take action to prevent the illegal use of chemical precursors
and to reinforce its anti-narcotics trafficking structures.
The High Representative and the INCB President welcomed the fact that draft
State-level legislation banning controlled substances has been prepared. This
draft Law on the Prevention and Suppression of Narcotic Drugs will modernise
Bosnia and Herzegovina
’s legislation and close gaps between Entity
laws. The
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Council of Ministers must now ensure that this
draft legislation moves to Parliament when it reconvenes in early September.
The
Bosnia and Herzegovina
authorities must take this issue seriously. Most of the
narcotics produced in or trafficked from
Bosnia and Herzegovina
make their way into
Western Europe – but drug abuse is becoming a serious
problem in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
itself. The High Representative and INCB President called
on the BiH Parliament to approve the law as a matter of urgency when it
reconvenes in September.
