Pace of reform accelerating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, OSCE Mission Head says
A priority of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is education reform. (OSCE) Photo details
VIENNA, 3 April 2003 - The pace of reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina is accelerating but there is still a long way to go in fully establishing the rule of law and economic regeneration, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, said on Thursday.
He told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna that the authorities had presented action plans for reform in the economy, rule of law, education, defence and public administration. But too often the authorities only implemented reforms under pressure from the international community.
"While the attention of the world is largely focused outside the Balkan region at this time, there are still 12,000 SFOR troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost 400,000 displaced persons and refugees are still seeking closure and there is still a significant way to go in fully establishing the rule of law and achieving economic regeneration," Ambassador Beecroft said.
He said support from the Permanent Council, the OSCE's main decision-making body, would ensure that the OSCE Mission continued to play a key role in pressing still further the pace of reforms.
"In this way, we will achieve the conditions necessary for a peaceful and progressive environment - one which relies not on international troops and the frequent exercise of executive powers by the international community, but on the legacy of good governance that we have imparted to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves," he added.
The Head of the European Commission Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Michael Humphreys, said Bosnia and Herzegovina was still far from becoming the self-sustaining country the European Union wanted it to be.
"Bosnia and Herzegovina is still too dependent on political facilitation by the international community and there is still little evidence of real 'reform ownership' by the political authorities and leaders," he told the Permanent Council.
The economic situation remained fragile and further structural reform was needed. "The fight against organized crime and corruption, as in the whole region, also deserves increased attention," Ambassador Humphreys said.
The role of the international community, including the OSCE, remained vital in the reform process. Noting that the Commission and the OSCE were co-operating effectively in the reform of education, on rule of law issues and in the return of refugees and displaced persons, Ambassador Humphreys added: "The European Commission recognizes and appreciates the long-term efforts of the OSCE in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
He told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna that the authorities had presented action plans for reform in the economy, rule of law, education, defence and public administration. But too often the authorities only implemented reforms under pressure from the international community.
"While the attention of the world is largely focused outside the Balkan region at this time, there are still 12,000 SFOR troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost 400,000 displaced persons and refugees are still seeking closure and there is still a significant way to go in fully establishing the rule of law and achieving economic regeneration," Ambassador Beecroft said.
He said support from the Permanent Council, the OSCE's main decision-making body, would ensure that the OSCE Mission continued to play a key role in pressing still further the pace of reforms.
"In this way, we will achieve the conditions necessary for a peaceful and progressive environment - one which relies not on international troops and the frequent exercise of executive powers by the international community, but on the legacy of good governance that we have imparted to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves," he added.
The Head of the European Commission Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Michael Humphreys, said Bosnia and Herzegovina was still far from becoming the self-sustaining country the European Union wanted it to be.
"Bosnia and Herzegovina is still too dependent on political facilitation by the international community and there is still little evidence of real 'reform ownership' by the political authorities and leaders," he told the Permanent Council.
The economic situation remained fragile and further structural reform was needed. "The fight against organized crime and corruption, as in the whole region, also deserves increased attention," Ambassador Humphreys said.
The role of the international community, including the OSCE, remained vital in the reform process. Noting that the Commission and the OSCE were co-operating effectively in the reform of education, on rule of law issues and in the return of refugees and displaced persons, Ambassador Humphreys added: "The European Commission recognizes and appreciates the long-term efforts of the OSCE in Bosnia and Herzegovina."