Newsroom
OSCE opens new political resource center in Brcko
SARAJEVO 1 August 2002
SARAJEVO, 1 August 2002 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina continues its support for political parties and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by opening a new Political Resource Center (PRC) in Brcko, funded by the Dutch Government. The OSCE Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann, opened the Center, which is the thirteenth location in BiH, on 1 August 2002.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Henry L. Clarke, Supervisor of Brcko; Carel Brands, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Dutch Embassy and Michael H. Hryshchyshyn, OSCE Director of Democratisation.
"The network of Political Resource Centers which have so far been established by OSCE throughout the country has proven an invaluable asset of political life, in particular in areas lacking clear platforms responsive to community needs," said Ambassador Woltmann, at the opening ceremony.
The OSCE's network of Political Resource Centers was established in 1998 to provide political parties and independent candidates with the necessary resources to participate in the creation of a pluralistic and multi-ethnic political environment. The work of the Political Resource Centers has resulted in a significant increase in political party contacts and in co-operation among opposition parties. They have also enabled parties to establish and maintain direct contact with their supporters and to reach out to new voters. Equally importantly, the Political Resource Centers have enabled local citizens to call their elected representatives to account and to ensure that politicians hear their voices.
OSCE Political Resource Centres are located in Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Doboj, Livno, Ljubuski, Mostar, Sarajevo, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, and Visegrad.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Henry L. Clarke, Supervisor of Brcko; Carel Brands, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Dutch Embassy and Michael H. Hryshchyshyn, OSCE Director of Democratisation.
"The network of Political Resource Centers which have so far been established by OSCE throughout the country has proven an invaluable asset of political life, in particular in areas lacking clear platforms responsive to community needs," said Ambassador Woltmann, at the opening ceremony.
The OSCE's network of Political Resource Centers was established in 1998 to provide political parties and independent candidates with the necessary resources to participate in the creation of a pluralistic and multi-ethnic political environment. The work of the Political Resource Centers has resulted in a significant increase in political party contacts and in co-operation among opposition parties. They have also enabled parties to establish and maintain direct contact with their supporters and to reach out to new voters. Equally importantly, the Political Resource Centers have enabled local citizens to call their elected representatives to account and to ensure that politicians hear their voices.
OSCE Political Resource Centres are located in Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Doboj, Livno, Ljubuski, Mostar, Sarajevo, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, and Visegrad.