Newsroom
Successful first session of Republika Srpska National Assembly
SARAJEVO 19 December 2000
SARAJEVO, 19 December 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is pleased with the dignified and democratic manner in which the inaugural session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly was held on Saturday, 16 December.
While it was unfortunate that the parties failed to come to agreement on the issue of the oath of office, otherwise the meeting went smoothly and in accordance with democratic principles.
"The OSCE was especially pleased to note that the Bosnia and Herzegovina flag was flown and the national anthem was played for the first time in the Republika Srpska National Assembly meeting," stated OSCE Acting Head of Mission Ambassador Dieter Woltmann. "This symbolism set the appropriate tone for all present and we expect future sessions to be conducted in a similarly open and professional manner, for the sake of all the citizens of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole."
The OSCE also notes the inaccurate statements of several media outlets, which incorrectly reported that no one from the OSCE was present at the ceremony. The OSCE was in fact represented at the inaugural session by Acting Head of Mission Ambassador Woltmann.
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.
For further information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Henriette Schroeder at ++ 387/(0)33 292-153 or at ++387/(0)66 165-038.
While it was unfortunate that the parties failed to come to agreement on the issue of the oath of office, otherwise the meeting went smoothly and in accordance with democratic principles.
"The OSCE was especially pleased to note that the Bosnia and Herzegovina flag was flown and the national anthem was played for the first time in the Republika Srpska National Assembly meeting," stated OSCE Acting Head of Mission Ambassador Dieter Woltmann. "This symbolism set the appropriate tone for all present and we expect future sessions to be conducted in a similarly open and professional manner, for the sake of all the citizens of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole."
The OSCE also notes the inaccurate statements of several media outlets, which incorrectly reported that no one from the OSCE was present at the ceremony. The OSCE was in fact represented at the inaugural session by Acting Head of Mission Ambassador Woltmann.
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.
For further information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Henriette Schroeder at ++ 387/(0)33 292-153 or at ++387/(0)66 165-038.