Newsroom
OSCE welcomes agreement on constitutional amendments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 28 March 2002
SARAJEVO, 28 March 2002 - OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the agreement reached on 27 March on the implementation of the Constituent Peoples' decision. The agreement is the result of the firm determination of the country's political leaders to find consensual solutions among themselves on pressing issues that have divided them so far. They must be commended for their incessant exhausting efforts. Their political maturity, which has been questioned so often in the past, bodes well for this country's future constitutional, economic and social development in the interest of all its citizens and constituent peoples.
OSCE participating States have awaited this agreement eagerly. It comes very timely when Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing to join the Council of Europe and intends to stride along towards European and Atlantic integration.
Ambassador Dieter Woltmann, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission, stated: "The agreement was reached through mutual give and take but also in an effort to identify overarching joint interests. As it is normal in a democratic process, none of the participating parties could reach all its original goals. But nobody left the negotiations a loser. The agreement fully lives up to the principles of the Constitutional Court decision as well as to European standards. This is what really matters. In the eyes of the attentive public both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in OSCE countries, winners will be all those who contributed to this consensus.
True, some political leaders have signed the agreement with specific reservations. Others did not take part in the last phase of the negotiations. But I trust that the political good will shown so far will continue to prevail, especially in the forthcoming parliamentary deliberations. I strongly urge all political parties to join the consensus reached and to ensure acceptance of the agreement in full and by all. The momentum must not be lost."
Once the agreement is fully accepted, it is important to swiftly incorporate it into the entity constitutions. Following that, the BiH Election Law needs to be adjusted to the constitutional amendments. On 18 April, the BiH Election Commission will publicly announce the date of the forthcoming elections for 5 October and provide specific information to the competent authorities and the public about all elections held at the different levels of authority and the electoral provisions governing them. Consequently, the provisions have to be in force by mid-April. Time is the essence.
OSCE participating States have awaited this agreement eagerly. It comes very timely when Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing to join the Council of Europe and intends to stride along towards European and Atlantic integration.
Ambassador Dieter Woltmann, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission, stated: "The agreement was reached through mutual give and take but also in an effort to identify overarching joint interests. As it is normal in a democratic process, none of the participating parties could reach all its original goals. But nobody left the negotiations a loser. The agreement fully lives up to the principles of the Constitutional Court decision as well as to European standards. This is what really matters. In the eyes of the attentive public both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in OSCE countries, winners will be all those who contributed to this consensus.
True, some political leaders have signed the agreement with specific reservations. Others did not take part in the last phase of the negotiations. But I trust that the political good will shown so far will continue to prevail, especially in the forthcoming parliamentary deliberations. I strongly urge all political parties to join the consensus reached and to ensure acceptance of the agreement in full and by all. The momentum must not be lost."
Once the agreement is fully accepted, it is important to swiftly incorporate it into the entity constitutions. Following that, the BiH Election Law needs to be adjusted to the constitutional amendments. On 18 April, the BiH Election Commission will publicly announce the date of the forthcoming elections for 5 October and provide specific information to the competent authorities and the public about all elections held at the different levels of authority and the electoral provisions governing them. Consequently, the provisions have to be in force by mid-April. Time is the essence.