Transcript of the International Agencies’ Joint Press Conference

OHR, Oleg
Milisic


EUFOR, Karen Halsey

 

 

OHR

I have a couple of points for you this morning but let me clarify
some media reporting right off.


It was reported last night that the HR would be in Foca tomorrow.  The
HR is not visiting Foca but he has welcomed the lifting of the Lautenberg
Sanctions on this municipality.


High Representative Hails
Lifting of Lautenberg Sanctions on Foca 


The High Representative has said, “This is an indication of
a change in the Municipality and confirms that the application of strict
conditionality can have a positive effect. Moreover the lifting of this sanction
shows that making progress has benefits; an important signal for
those municipalities in the RS that remain under the ‘Lautenberg’ sanction,
and for the RS as a whole with regard
its particular responsibility for improving co-operation with the
ICTY” – end quote.


Parliamentarians Act to
Improve Legal and Human Rights Protection
 


The OHR welcomes the adoption of two pieces of legislation which yesterday
finally passed through the Parliamentary process, which will strengthen the rule
of Law and Human Rights, confirm BiH’s commitment to it’s international
obligations, and push  BiH further down the road to EU integration.


The FBiH House of Representatives adopted the Law on
Minor Offences of the Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina.


This will modernise the way in which BiH deals with minor offences and is a
key element in consolidating the Rule of Law in BiH. Minor offences
will now be dealt with by the courts in a faster and more efficient
way.


The current 71 Minor Offence Courts in BiH will be incorporated in
existing Municipal and Basic Courts as Minor Offence Departments. This
means that the savings can be used to improve the court system as a whole.


The adoption of this legislation opens the way for the HJPC to begin the
process of reappointing judges dealing with minor offences.


The Council of Europe has said this legislation meets the requirements of the
European Convention on Human Rights and the practice of the European Court of
Human Rights.


(The House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament adopted the same Law on
07 March
2006
)


Secondly, the BiH HoP yesterday adopted the Law on changes and amendments to
the Law on Ombudsman for Human Rights of BiH.


The Law provides for the merger of the Entity Ombudsman Offices at the State
level.


This institution is a key safeguard for citizens’ rights.


This legislation is  part of the  post-accession criteria
following BiH’s accession to the CoE, and as such is an SAA requirement that has
now been met.



 


EUFOR


No statement.

Europa.ba