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OSCE meets with Speaker and Deputy Speakers of BiH Parliamentary Assembly
SARAJEVO 18 January 2001
SARAJEVO, 18 January 2001 - OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry and other OSCE officials met with the new Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives and the two deputy speakers, which form the Collegium. They discussed the Parliamentary Support Programme designed by OSCE in co-operation with the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
In the course of the meeting, Ambassador Barry pointed out that the program, designed to improve the capacity of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is a top priority of the Mission. Members of Parliament and professionals from several OSCE participating States will work with the House of Representatives and House of Peoples during their mandate, with a view to improve the functioning of the committee system and the ability to draft legislation. The Collegium and the OSCE will work out a schedule of activities for the program.
"The legislative program for 2001 is a demanding one, consisting of a number of draft laws already in various stages of the parliamentary procedure and an ambitious economic reform program as laid out in the Alliance for Changes program and the European Union roadmap," stated Ambassador Barry. "There is a real need to organize the committees of the Parliamentary Assembly as soon as possible, and encourage them to work intensively with experts to produce legislation."
Barry put particular emphasis on the need to agree on a draft election law as a basis for parliamentary discussion and amendment. Such a law should be approved by June 1, after the entities have amended their constitutions in accord with the Constitutional Court decision.
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 more information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at (++387/33) 292-449.
In the course of the meeting, Ambassador Barry pointed out that the program, designed to improve the capacity of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is a top priority of the Mission. Members of Parliament and professionals from several OSCE participating States will work with the House of Representatives and House of Peoples during their mandate, with a view to improve the functioning of the committee system and the ability to draft legislation. The Collegium and the OSCE will work out a schedule of activities for the program.
"The legislative program for 2001 is a demanding one, consisting of a number of draft laws already in various stages of the parliamentary procedure and an ambitious economic reform program as laid out in the Alliance for Changes program and the European Union roadmap," stated Ambassador Barry. "There is a real need to organize the committees of the Parliamentary Assembly as soon as possible, and encourage them to work intensively with experts to produce legislation."
Barry put particular emphasis on the need to agree on a draft election law as a basis for parliamentary discussion and amendment. Such a law should be approved by June 1, after the entities have amended their constitutions in accord with the Constitutional Court decision.
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 more information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at (++387/33) 292-449.