OSCE offers public administration seminars in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 26 September 2000 - After completing a series of country-wide training sessions for newly elected councillors, the OSCE Governance Program is shifting its focus to the executive branches of municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Eight seminars on public administration are being offered to mayors. The two-day seminars will concentrate on local self-government, roles and responsibilities of executive officials and financial reform.

In working groups, the participants will develop strategies for creating service-oriented municipalities. In order to foster inter-municipal co-operation on issues such as return and development of cross-border economic initiatives, municipalities were separated into groups to support these aims.

The OSCE Human Rights Department will use the meetings as an opportunity to disseminate information on the best practices used by the mayors to facilitate the return process. The topics of return-related tension and violence, alternative accommodation and fair employment practices at the municipal level will also be discussed.

Media representatives are also invited to attend the seminars, which start at 11:00 at the following dates and locations:

Sarajevo, Group 1, 28-29 September (Hotel Grand)

Sarajevo, Group 2, 29-30 September (Hotel Grand)

Tuzla, Group 1, 2-3 October (Hotel Tuzla)

Tuzla, Group 2, 4-5 October (Hotel Tuzla)

Banja Luka, Group 1, 6-7 October (Hotel Bosna)

Banja Luka, Group 2, 9-10 October (Hotel Bosna)

Mostar, Group 1, 19-20 October (Hotel Herzegovina, Ljubuski)

Mostar, Group 2, 19-20 October (Hotel Most, Ljubuski)

For further information, please contact Luke Zahner, spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: 033/292-222