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OSCE commemorates five years in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 18 December 2000
SARAJEVO, 18 December 2000 - Today, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina marks five years of work in the country. The Mission is based on the work of an earlier and smaller OSCE Mission founded in October 1994. Since its inception, the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has made efforts to foster the country's transition to democracy and promote human rights.
"Having spent nearly two years in Bosnia and Herzegovina and many more in the region, I am heartened by the progress," said OSCE Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann. "At the same time, I am disheartened by the failure of local authorities to take more responsibility for re-building the country and its institutions. I would like to see them identify their joint interests and tackle their common problems rather than debate what they think separates them. I look forward to the day when there will no longer be a need for an OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that day has not yet come, and will remain a distant prospect in the absence of commitment by local authorities to real reform. Still, the Mission remains as committed as ever to helping this country make a successful transition to democracy."
Since 1995, the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has overseen six elections, undertaken programmes to foster an independent and pluralistic media, promoted respect for human rights, implemented arms control and confidence building measures, and worked to promote democratic institutions and the development of a vibrant civil society. The Mission's mandate was recently extended by the OSCE Permanent Council.
For further information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++ 387/(0)33 292 222 or at ++387/(0)66 144 311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
"Having spent nearly two years in Bosnia and Herzegovina and many more in the region, I am heartened by the progress," said OSCE Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann. "At the same time, I am disheartened by the failure of local authorities to take more responsibility for re-building the country and its institutions. I would like to see them identify their joint interests and tackle their common problems rather than debate what they think separates them. I look forward to the day when there will no longer be a need for an OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that day has not yet come, and will remain a distant prospect in the absence of commitment by local authorities to real reform. Still, the Mission remains as committed as ever to helping this country make a successful transition to democracy."
Since 1995, the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has overseen six elections, undertaken programmes to foster an independent and pluralistic media, promoted respect for human rights, implemented arms control and confidence building measures, and worked to promote democratic institutions and the development of a vibrant civil society. The Mission's mandate was recently extended by the OSCE Permanent Council.
For further information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++ 387/(0)33 292 222 or at ++387/(0)66 144 311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.