Newsroom
OSCE calls for end to delays in forming governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 14 February 2001
SARAJEVO, 14 February 2001 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina calls on all political parties and elected representatives to complete the implementation of the election results by immediately moving to set up governments at the state, Federation and cantonal levels.
With seven of ten cantons having fulfilled their constitutional responsibilities to elect delegates to the Federation House of Peoples by Wednesday, February 14, the OSCE calls on the outgoing president of the House to convene a meeting of the new House by next Friday, February 23 with those delegates who have been elected. The new House of Peoples should take up the issue of choosing a new President and Vice President of the Federation immediately in order to proceed with the formation of a Federation government.
"The delays in the formation of the Federation government benefit no one," said OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry. "The elected officials need to take up their responsibilities and form a government immediately in order to deal with the serious economic and social problems that are making life difficult for the citizens of this country."
The process of constituting the House of Peoples cannot be prevented by the obstructive behavior of one political party. The House of Peoples will begin to operate with those delegates already elected, and those cantons who have not yet selected their delegates will remain free to do so at any time. However, as long as certain cantons refuse to send delegates to the House of Peoples, the citizens of those cantons do not have a voice in the crucial decisions which the House of Peoples will be taking in the coming days.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at (++387/33) 292-449.
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.
With seven of ten cantons having fulfilled their constitutional responsibilities to elect delegates to the Federation House of Peoples by Wednesday, February 14, the OSCE calls on the outgoing president of the House to convene a meeting of the new House by next Friday, February 23 with those delegates who have been elected. The new House of Peoples should take up the issue of choosing a new President and Vice President of the Federation immediately in order to proceed with the formation of a Federation government.
"The delays in the formation of the Federation government benefit no one," said OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry. "The elected officials need to take up their responsibilities and form a government immediately in order to deal with the serious economic and social problems that are making life difficult for the citizens of this country."
The process of constituting the House of Peoples cannot be prevented by the obstructive behavior of one political party. The House of Peoples will begin to operate with those delegates already elected, and those cantons who have not yet selected their delegates will remain free to do so at any time. However, as long as certain cantons refuse to send delegates to the House of Peoples, the citizens of those cantons do not have a voice in the crucial decisions which the House of Peoples will be taking in the coming days.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at (++387/33) 292-449.
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.