OHR’s Statement at the International Agencies’ Joint Press Conference in Mostar

HR-EUSR Meets Rehn and Solana In
Brussels

The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian
Schwarz-Schilling is in Brussels
today.


This morning, he met Olli Rehn, the EC’s Enlargement Commissioner. This
afternoon, he will meet with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign
and Security Policy, Javier Solana.


The HR-EUSR will be briefing Commissioner Rehn and High Representative Solana
on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the pace of government
formation, progress in upholding the rule of law, economic prospects, regional
political developments and progress towards key pre-requirements for Bosnia and
Herzegovina to be able to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with
the European Union – police reform and a functioning and independent public
broadcasting service.


[We hope to be able to make a joint statement by the HR-EUSR and HR Solana
available to you during the course of the day.]


The HR-EUSR is also participating in a conference bringing together all nine
EU Special Representatives active in different regions of the world.


EU Special Representatives support the work of the EU High Representative for
the Common Foreign and Security Policy and play a central part in promoting the
interests and policies of the European Union in their respective countries.


The meetings with Commissioner Rehn and High Representative Solana form part
of a series of consultations in advance of the next meeting of the Peace
Implementation Council (PIC) on 26 and 27 February in
Brussels at which the PIC is to
review its decision to close the Office of the High Representative at the end of
June.



 


Canton
7 At Risk Of Not Participating In The FBiH HoP


The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Assembly must today nominate its delegates to
the FBiH House of Peoples or run the risk that this Canton will not participate
in the key decisions the House of Peoples must take early in its mandate.


As you know last week the parties elected to the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
Assembly agreed to hold a session today at which they would nominate the
Canton’s delegates to the FBiH House
of Peoples (HoP). The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton is the only
Canton that has not started the
process of electing delegates to the FBiH House of Peoples.


The OHR at the start of the week issued a legal interpretation of the
Federation’s constitution that states that the FBiH House of Peoples could hold
its constituent session with a simple majority of delegates appointed from the
FBiH Cantons. A simple majority is achieved when over 50 per cent of the
delegates have been appointed, that is 30 delegates in all.


With the election of candidates from
Canton 8 (Siroki Brijeg) yesterday
the total number of delegates elected to the FBiH House of Peoples now stands at
40.


The FBiH House of Peoples must be convened as soon as possible so that it can
adopt a decision on temporary financing, thereby heading off serious fiscal
crisis in the FBiH. It must also forward nominations to the BiH House of Peoples
so that the State level Parliament can be formed.


Under the FBiH Constitution, the HoP is bound to meet within 20 days of the
announcement of the election results. The OHR expects the House of Peoples to
convene as soon as possible now that there are a sufficient number of delegates
to constitute a quorum.


If the Canton 7 Assembly fails to confirm its nominations today the OHR will
have no choice but to call for the inaugural session of the FBiH House of
Peoples to take place without representatives from the Herzegovina-Neretva
Canton in line with the FBiH Constitution.

Europa.ba