OSCE Ambassadors visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to review Euro-Atlantic integration and OSCE commitments

SARAJEVO, 14 May 2010 - Seventeen Ambassadors and members of delegations to the OSCE concluded a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina today that aimed to review Bosnia and Herzegovina's capacity to implement European standards in order to progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration and OSCE commitments.

The visit, organized in conjunction with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, brought together Ambassadors to the OSCE from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the visit, the delegation met representatives of BiH governmental institutions, and partner international organization, including the High Representative and EU Special Representative in BiH, Valentin Inzko, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj, Defense Minister Selmo Cikotic, Central Election Commission members and the BiH Ombudsman. The delegation also met non-governmental organizations representatives and University of Sarajevo students in an event organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

"This is the largest group of Permanent Representatives to the OSCE to visit BiH, and signals the keen interest of the OSCE Participating States in the continued progress of this country," said Ambassador Gary D. Robbins, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

The delegation was briefed on the importance of advancing democratic governance for securing the rights of all BiH citizens.