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OSCE Head of Mission welcomes decision on alternative accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 13 March 2001
SARAJEVO, 13 March 2001 - Ambassador Robert L. Barry, OSCE Head of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, welcomed a decision by Republika Srpska Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons Mico Micic to provide alternative accommodation in Prijedor. On 26 February, Mr. Micic, the director of Hotel Balkan, and the mayor of Prijedor signed a contract that secured use of this state owned hotel for alternative accommodation, as the international community has repeatedly urged.
"I commend Minister Micic, and urge him to sign similar contracts in every Republika Srpska municipality where alternative accommodation is needed," said Ambassador Barry.
The Ministry bears responsibility for the provision of alternative accommodation and assumes 80 percent of the costs. Previously, agreements with state-owned hotels permitted the hotels to charge tourist rates. Such rates, artificially high in a country with little tourism, were charged at expense of Repubika Srpska citizens, the government and returnees.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to stress that privatization of state-owned hotels should not be used as a pretext for not using them for alternative accommodation.
For further information please contact Henriette Schroeder, Deputy Spokesperson, at (++387/33) 292-153 or (++387/66) 165-038.
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.
"I commend Minister Micic, and urge him to sign similar contracts in every Republika Srpska municipality where alternative accommodation is needed," said Ambassador Barry.
The Ministry bears responsibility for the provision of alternative accommodation and assumes 80 percent of the costs. Previously, agreements with state-owned hotels permitted the hotels to charge tourist rates. Such rates, artificially high in a country with little tourism, were charged at expense of Repubika Srpska citizens, the government and returnees.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to stress that privatization of state-owned hotels should not be used as a pretext for not using them for alternative accommodation.
For further information please contact Henriette Schroeder, Deputy Spokesperson, at (++387/33) 292-153 or (++387/66) 165-038.
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.