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OSCE Head of Mission meets Republika Srpska Prime Minister
BANJA LUKA 6 April 2001
BANJA LUKA, 6 April 2001 - The OSCE Head of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert L. Barry, met with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic today in Banja Luka. During the course of their hour-long discussion, they discussed several topics, in particular return-related issues in Srebrenica and Bratunac and the latest developments with the election law.
"We discussed the unfortunate blocking of the election law in the Council of Ministers yesterday," affirmed Ambassador Barry. "We agree that the passage of an election law must be a priority, because the lack of such a law blocks Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to Europe. I also made it clear that the election law cannot be used to amend provisions of the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina."
Barry also requested quick action by the Republika Srpska government on the appointment of multi-ethnic boards of directors for companies in Srebrenica, and mentioned concerns the OSCE has about return-related issues in Bratunac.
Ambassador Barry has been in Banja Luka for the past two days for a series of meetings with local officials and to attend a reception marking the fifth anniversary of the OSCE presence in Banja Luka.
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 Sanela Tunovic, Deputy Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (++387/33) 292-338 or (++387/66) 134-758.
"We discussed the unfortunate blocking of the election law in the Council of Ministers yesterday," affirmed Ambassador Barry. "We agree that the passage of an election law must be a priority, because the lack of such a law blocks Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to Europe. I also made it clear that the election law cannot be used to amend provisions of the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina."
Barry also requested quick action by the Republika Srpska government on the appointment of multi-ethnic boards of directors for companies in Srebrenica, and mentioned concerns the OSCE has about return-related issues in Bratunac.
Ambassador Barry has been in Banja Luka for the past two days for a series of meetings with local officials and to attend a reception marking the fifth anniversary of the OSCE presence in Banja Luka.
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 Sanela Tunovic, Deputy Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (++387/33) 292-338 or (++387/66) 134-758.