OHR

SAA
Depends on Maintaining Cross-Party Cooperation

The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is in

Brussels

today. He has just
concluded a meeting with EC Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, and he is now
meeting EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier
Solana. The purpose of these meetings is to review the progress that BiH is now
making in regard to the Stabilisation and Association process. 

“It is now absolutely imperative that BiH approach the

SAA negotiations with seriousness,” the
High Representative said in

Brussels

this morning, ahead of his meetings. “Progress in finalising the PBS legislation
and meeting the deadlines BiH’s Parliaments have themselves set on
Police Reform will be the first test that the EU will apply.”

In its Decision yesterday accepting the Commission’s recommendation that

SAA negotiations begin, the EU Council called
for implementation of the Police Reform agreement and stressed the importance of
the adoption and implementation of all necessary public broadcasting
legislation.

“As BiH enters the

SAP the
responsibility of the BiH Authorities is immediately increased,” the
High Representative said. “Every single citizen can benefit from the
possibilities opened up by the launch of

SAA
negotiations. The political leadership must make sure that benefits are
optimized and delivered as soon as possible.”  

The High Representative emphasised that the arduous process of administrative
and legislative reform that has brought BiH to this position has been driven by
cross-party cooperation and pragmatic compromise and that this must now be
maintained.

SAA will only move forward in a
satisfactory way if the process is not subjected to party political
infighting. 

In light of yesterday’s Foreign Ministers’ announcement the High
Representative has extended his congratulations to the Chairman of the BiH
Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, the Director of the Directorate for European
Integration, Osman Topcagic, and other leaders in BiH.

Later today we will be distributing photos from the Rehn and Solana
meetings.

SDHR visits
Tuzla

The Senior Deputy High Representative, Martin Ney, is making a two-day visit
to
Tuzla
and Orasje tomorrow and
Thursday.

Tomorrow Ambassador Ney will meet cantonal and municipal officials in

Tuzla

to discuss regional economic
development and reforms connected to BiH’s Euro-Atlantic integration effort. He
will also meet academics and representatives of civic society.

On Thursday, Ambassador Ney will visit the ICMP ID Centre in

Tuzla

and then travel to Orasje and
Draganovci, where he will meet municipal officials and local families and
discuss, among other things, return issues.

We will be distributing a media advisory later today with full details of
media opportunities on this trip.

OSCE

Eighth Education Forum starts in Mostar today

Over 400 citizens throughout
Bosnia and Herzegovina
will engage in discussions about
their country’s education situation in four separate forums, organized by the
OSCE Mission to
Bosnia and Herzegovina
, to be held in Mostar,

Tuzla
,
Banja Luka
and

Sarajevo
this week.  The first
forum starts today in Mostar. 

Since 2002, education forums have provided parents, teachers, school
directors, media and elected officials the opportunity to discuss issues and to
shape the development of the education reform. This Eighth Education Forum aims
to encourage citizens to take a more active engagement in education reform by
identifying issues and then formulating and lobbying for solutions themselves,
while at the same time working with their elected officials to make reform
happen.

The Eighth Education Forum, “Better Education – It’s Your Right. It’s Your
Responsibility”, is an opportunity to discuss the progress made hitherto in
education.  It will not only look at its successes but examine its failings
in the spirit of “lessons learned,” and thereby contributing towards more
positive progress in education reform and its implementation.

The OSCE Mission to BiH recently conducted the public opinion research
raising the question of education. Only 23% of parents are completely satisfied
with the education their children receive. It is also worth noting that 83%
think that personal connections is very important in finding a job, while only
58% that education is very important.

Eight Education Forum moves to
Tuzla tomorrow, 9 November;
Banja
Luka on 10 November and closes
in Sarajevo on 11 November
2005.

EUFOR

Border Control Operations

As of yesterday morning, BiH law enforcement authorities started to conduct
border control operations across a wide area, in order to deter all types of
illegal activities along BiH borders.  In direct support of these
operations, EUFOR, in cooperation with EUPM, is conducting wide, coordinated and
simultaneous activities across the EUFOR area of operations.

In support of the State Border Service (SBS), who are leading these
operations, this wide-reaching operation involves rapid and intense deployments
of EUFOR troops, providing flexible response to intelligence gathered from EUFOR
assets and that provided by local law enforcement agencies.

Cooperation so far between BiH government and local authorities and EUFOR has
been very effective.

EUFOR regrets any inconvenience to law-abiding citizens who may be caught up
in the consequences of vehicle check points and other surveillance operations,
all of which are contributing to a safer BiH.

In connection with this, it can be confirmed that the troops injured in a
traffic accident near Zvornik yesterday morning, were part of the support
elements for these border operations.  None of the injuries to the seven
Polish soldiers were life threatening, although the driver did suffer injuries
to his legs, chest and face, injuries which are not considered critical. 
After first aid on the scene, he was transferred to the military hospital at
Rajlovac by helicopter, whereas the others returned to Camp Eagle Base in

Tuzla
for treatment of more minor
injuries.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.