YouSaid · the spoken record

Inzko

lines on the record: 398
first: 2009-05-28
most recent: 2019-11-05
sittings or episodes: 22
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I hope that we will also be able to resolve the remaining issues soon. However, before this process can be recommended, the Republika Srpska is required to give proper and specific assurances on the constitutional status and rights of the Brcko district in the future, as well as on the terms of the Final Award, as the Federation has done already. The Federation has given assurances on Brcko, but the Republika Srpska has yet to do so. As I mentioned earlier, the entire international community must take the deteriorating situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina very seriously. Further erosion of the State, its institutions and the rule of law will push Bosnia and Herzegovina into deeper crisis and instability. This could also have negative consequences for the entire region of South-East Europe.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“On the State and defence property objectives, which are the first and second objectives, there has even been regression as the Republika Srpska authorities unilaterally adopted an entity law on State property in December that - had it entered into force - would have led to all State property in that entity being registered as Republika Srpska property. This would have made a comprehensive negotiated solution on State property impossible. Therefore, I had to suspend the application of that law pending a decision on its constitutionality by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On defence property, Republika Srpska continues to refuse to grant the State the right of ownership over defence property. In contrast, there has been progress addressing the outstanding conditions on the Brcko electricity issue.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“It is clear that we need to support the ownership principle in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Peace Implementation Council has continued to express strong concern about developments in the country, in particular about the events I have mentioned. At the same time, the Peace Implementation Council has noted that - with the exception of the objective related to the Brcko district * there has been little progress in implementing the conditions required for closing the Office of the High Representative.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“Seven months after the general elections, the overall political situation in the country remains unsatisfactory and has made the formation of Government at the State level almost impossible. The legislative process at the State level remains at a standstill, and as a result there has been no progress addressing EU- and NATO-related reform agendas. I believe that it would be a mistake to view these latest developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a short-term negative trend. We have in fact witnessed a downward trend in political stability for five years now, following the rejection of the April 2006 package of constitutional amendments. While we must now 3 focus on the immediate difficulties, I believe that it is also important to take a critical look at what we need to do to secure a functional and Viable country in the long term.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“In addition to the conclusions and the decision on the referendum, the authorities of Republika Srpska, and in particular its President, have openly continued to question the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina by repeatedly threatening the sustainability of the country and by frequently advocating in favour of its dissolution. The authorities of Republika Srpska have also continued to undermine and question other key State-level institutions in the country. The policy behind that is to show that these institutions are dysfunctional and therefore not needed at the State level. The Republika Srpska authorities have also continued to deny that genocide took place in Srebrenica in 1995 - a fact which has repeatedly been confirmed by international tribunals.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“On a technical but important point, and to avoid any misunderstandings, this referendum would be binding. Although there had been some statements suggesting that the referendum would not be binding, it would in fact be binding. My approach to this challenge to the Dayton Paris Peace Agreement has been clear and fully consistent with my firm belief that dialogue should always be given a chance. In this regard, I expect the Republika Srpska authorities to rescind the adopted conclusions and the referendum decision in the coming days. Should that not happen, given my responsibilities to uphold the Peace Agreement, I will have no choice but to repeal the conclusions and referendum decision. In this regard, I have strong support from the Peace Implementation Council and the highest levels of the European Union.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“In addition, the conclusions seek to undermine the entire constitutional system of the division of responsibilities between the State and the entities as established by annex 4 of the Peace Agreement, as well as the Constitution and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an institution established by the Peace Accord. With regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina's judicial institutions at the State level, which are specifically targeted by the referendum, I must point out that, under the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the State has exclusive competence for international and inter- entity criminal law enforcement. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina's 11-32875 Prosecutor's Office are institutions created with a View to enabling the State to exercise those precise State- level competencies.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“The holding of a referendum on the High Representative's powers and on his decisions would be a serious breach of the country's constitutional framework and of its international obligations. It would also be contrary to annex 10 of the Dayton Paris Peace Agreement and to a host of resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. In other words, such a referendum would also, in a way, challenge the authority of the Security Council and its relevant resolutions.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“As such, the recent actions by the Republika Srpska, if allowed to stand, would have a major impact on the functionality and sustainability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The High Representatives, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, enacted a significant number of decisions and laws fundamental to the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would mention just a few decisions taken that are now operational, namely, on Bosnia and Herzegovina's passport, flag, national anthem and coat of arms and on a single Ministry of Defence. 1 would remind the Council that before the single Ministry of Defence was created, there were three ministries of defence in existence. There have also been other key reforms, such as, inter alia, on border police.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“These developments would be bad enough at a time when Governments should be redoubling their efforts to deliver the deep reforms the country needs to tackle the serious economic and social challenges its citizens are facing, and, of course, to make progress towards EU and NATO membership. However, within this already difficult climate, the authorities in 11-32875 Republika Srpska have taken concrete actions that represent the most serious violation of the Dayton Paris Peace Agreement that we have seen since it was signed. The conclusions and the decision on the referendum, which were adopted by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in April, are not only a clear breach of the Peace Agreement but also put into question all laws enacted by the various High Representatives by claiming they are in violation of the Peace Agreement.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“The current situation in the Federation also comprises a philosophical dispute between ethnicity- based politics - where ethnicity is most important - and a more civic-oriented version of politics. In that regard, the Bosnian Croat parties of the Croatian Democratic Union have organized a council of Croat cantons and municipalities consisting of Croat majorities. While there are provisions in the Federation Constitution that foresee cooperation between cantons, such a development 15 years after Dayton is not really the direction in which we should be going.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“The Government formation process was stalled by lengthy political disputes and interventions. I was forced to intervene, with the support of the Peace Implementation Council, when the appointment of the authorities was disputed through various legal challenges. In fact, there was broad consensus in the Peace Implementation Council that taking no action would have resulted in political and legal uncertainty, with the prospect of the setting up of two parallel and disputed Federation Governments, with two presidents in place, and potentially no budget and the subsequent dissolution of the Federation parliament, followed by new elections. These risks have been averted, and the Federation authorities now seem to be working efficiently.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“I hope that my reports and my briefing today will contribute to a better understanding of the 2 current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the challenges that lie ahead. (spoke in English) More than seven months after the general elections, there is still no prospect for the formation of a new State Government, and many State institutions are under serious political, institutional and economic pressure - with a clear impact on their efficiency and functionality. The European Union (EU) and the Euro- Atlantic integration processes have come to a complete halt, and the economy continues to suffer. The authorities in the Federation - which forms the larger part of Bosnia and Herzegovina - took office only after months of obstruction of the election of delegates to the Federation House of Peoples.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the opportunity today to present my fifth report as High Representative and the thirty-ninth report overall. Since my last presentation to the Security Council in November 2010 (see PV.6421), the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has unfortunately continued to develop negatively. Today, regrettably, we are facing the most serious and most direct challenges to the Dayton Paris Peace Accord that we have seen since it was signed, more than 15 years ago. It is for this reason that, in accordance with my mandate and in addition to my biannual report, I have submitted to the Council a special report on recent actions undertaken by the authorities in the Republika Srpska that clearly Violate the Dayton Paris Peace Agreement.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“10-63264 Our continued attention on Bosnia and Herzegovina is the way to get to the objective that we all want to reach, where Bosnia and Herzegovina can move towards full Euro-Atlantic integration under its own steam - and that means with full ownership and the full responsibilities that go along with it. I am truly convinced that this possibility can become a reality, and I will, as High Representative and also as the Special Representative of the EU, continue to dedicate all my efforts to assisting and supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts in this direction. I also count on the continued support of the Council in this regard.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“We are speaking here not of the centralization of a State or the strengthening of centralized institutions; we are speaking here of strengthening the efficiency of State institutions. In 10 days, we will mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement. In this context, we need to ensure that we do not leave the job in Bosnia and Herzegovina unfinished. As I have argued before, the presence of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) with an executive mandate is still important. I must underline that it is important that sufficient troops be left on the ground to provide adequate levels of reassurance to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this respect, I strongly recommend the renewal of the Security Council resolution on EUFOR next week.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“This is in Bosnia and Herzegovina's interest as well as in the international community's interest. In this regard, we should strongly encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the main problems identified in the European Commission's progress report, such as the European Court of Human Rights ruling, the census law and other key European partnership priorities. We should encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the five objectives and two conditions that have been set for the transition and closure of the Office of the High Representative. Finally, we should encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to start a step-by-step process of constitutional changes in order to make a country that is self-sustainable and efficient in dealing with the challenges of Euro-Atlantic integration.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“However, Government formation - especially at the State-level - may take a long time, especially since some politicians have made clear their desire to roll back previously agreed reforms and to devolve a number of competencies from the State to the entities. Furthermore, we must insist very vocally that Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity and constitutional framework be preserved. Unfortunately, this emphasis is still necessary. We must make clear that only Bosnia and Herzegovina as one country has a future in the EU and NATO and that rhetoric about Bosnia and Herzegovina being an impossible State must stop. Beyond those basic issues, we need Bosnia and Herzegovina to progress with urgency towards both the European Union and NATO.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Instead, the choice facing Bosnia and Herzegovina is whether it chooses to reintegrate and reform, and in so doing join the EU and NATO, or whether it chooses stagnation and isolation. In light of the situation I have described, there is still a need for the international community to remain fully focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We must continue to accompany the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Euro-Atlantic path, and the international community must make it clear to the incoming Governments what we expect from them in the period ahead. As a first step to recreating the momentum, we must urge politicians to form Governments at all levels that are focused on the 10-63264 Euro-Atlantic agenda.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“In this regard, the responsibility for what happens in the next four years is firmly in the hands of the incoming authorities. They have a choice to make and, when they make it, they must take responsibility for what follows. The choice facing Bosnia and Herzegovina is not whether it survives as a State or whether it is divided. It will definitively continue to exist. The partition of the country or secession are not solutions. If it were possible to partition Bosnia and Herzegovina peacefully, it would have happened in 1992. It was, however, not possible then and it is not possible today. The partition of the country would also be a triumph for the Milosevic-led policy of the past.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“At the same time, the elections were held on the basis of the current election law, which is not in line with the European Convention for Human Rights. This does not affect the legitimacy of the elections, but this problem must be addressed urgently after the formation of the new Government. Let me underline that Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to become fully sustainable and to move forward towards Euro-Atlantic integration, will need political leaders that are ready to change the way they conduct politics. Zero-sum politics will need to be replaced by politics based on compromise and a readiness to meet each other half way. I cannot overemphasize this point. This is fundamental for a stable and forward-looking country.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“The international media portrayed those elections as a watershed event in the future of the country that will determine whether it will move forward towards Euro- Atlantic integration or backwards towards disintegration owing to increasing calls for secession coming from the smaller entity. The Bosnian election authorities conducted those elections efficiently. International election-observation missions concluded that the elections were generally held in accordance with international standards. The turnout for the general elections was around 57 per cent, which is the highest turnout in any election since 2002. At the same time, if we compare this election with the elections in 2006, there was an 18 per cent increase in the number of voters. This is good news that shows citizens increasingly care about the future of their country.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“In essence, however, the decision about the closure or transition of my Office depends on the readiness of Bosnian political leaders to meet the objectives and conditions that have been set. Despite the increasingly difficult situation on the ground and despite the lack of progress in addressing the conditions for the closure of my Office, in July 2010 I unilaterally reduced my staff by over 20 per cent. When I arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina last year, my Office still had 220 employees; now it has 160. Of course, many years ago, my Office had 800 employees. I also handed over the responsibility to vet certain appointed entity and cantonal officials to the respective local authorities, in a spirit of transition and more local ownership. It was in that overall atmosphere that I have described that general elections were held last month.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Furthermore, similar to the situation with State property, there has been no progress in addressing the defence property objective since my last report. As a result, Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards NATO has stalled, as it has not been able to meet the conditions for implementing NATO's membership action plan. Equally, Republika Srpska authorities continue to fail to meet the outstanding requirement for the termination of the supervision of Brcko. Due to the lack of progress, the Peace Implementation Council has not been able to decide about the closure of the Office of the High Representative, as already foreseen in 2006. The Peace Implementation Council will meet again later this month to consider the situation.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Equally, there has been very little progress in implementing the objectives and conditions for the transition or the closure of the Office of the High Representative that have been determined by the Peace Implementation Council. On the State property objective, there has actually been regression, as the Republika Srpska National Assembly adopted its own law on State property, which- if it enters into force - would register all State property in that entity to Republika Srpska. If the law is formally enacted, it will make a comprehensive negotiated solution on State property impossible. Consequently, that would make the closure of the Office of the High Representative substantially more difficult.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“To name just two, in the past year State-level authorities have failed to address the December 2009 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights with regard to discrimination against some citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina who are prevented from fully participating in public affairs and receiving appointments to certain State-level institutions. Similarly, a State-level census law has not been adopted, as the political parties could not agree on the future implementation of the census results. It will now be up to the new legislature to deal with this issue. But it is unlikely that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to hold a State-level census in 2011 together with the other countries in the region and in the world.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“In comparison with the previous State-level Parliament, in the period 2002 to 2006, the outgoing Parliament has adopted one third less legislation. Thirdly, there has also been a marked increase in unilateral actions, with the entities adopting and implementing legislation with little regard for the State and/or the other entity. Republika Srpska in particular has adopted a number of laws that challenge European partnership priorities or that aim to dismantle State- level reforms. There have also been similar, but less frequent, developments in the Federation. The problems to which I have referred have lead to a political stalemate and clear stagnation during the past four years. As a result, as confirmed by the European Commission's progress report, there has been only limited progress in addressing EU-related reforms.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“The same leaders have also repeatedly denied rulings by two international United Nations courts, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, that genocide took place in Srebrenica, thus further increasing tensions. I want to underline that, despite that rhetoric, the Federation-based parties have stopped challenging the existence of Republika Srpska almost entirely. However, the leading Bosnian Croat party, the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has called for a separate Croat entity. That may not be realistic, but it is nevertheless unnecessarily increasing the tensions in the country. Secondly, the State-level institutions have not worked to their full potential during the past four years, due mainly to political obstruction.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Unfortunately, the developments of the past year are symptomatic of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the past four years. Whereas there was substantial progress in the first 11 years after the war, in the past four years there has been stagnation and time has been largely wasted. The fundamentals of the country and its institutions, including their constitutional framework, have been challenged on a regular basis. Let me give the Council some concrete examples. First, there has been a fundamental change in the rhetoric and verbal attacks against the State. Leading politicians from Republika Srpska have frequently referred to the future independence of their entity while claiming that Bosnia and Herzegovina is an "impossible country", and therefore not sustainable.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“However, despite the improved atmosphere in the region, the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains complex. Today, 15 years after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, there is still insufficient dialogue and compromise. Sadly, nationalist agendas inside the country have continued to prevail over cooperation and compromise. The European Commission's progress report published just two days ago accordingly confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not living up to its potential and that in the past year the country has only made limited progress in addressing the conditions for European integration. Basically, there has been no progress on key reforms required for Euro-Atlantic integration in the past year.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Moreover, the regional situation in the Western Balkans has continued to develop positively. In the summer, the Croatian and Serbian Presidents made ground-breaking visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina that underlined the need for reconciliation and regional cooperation. As recently as last week, Serbian 10-63264 President Tadie apologized for Serbia's role in the 1991 Vukovar massacre. In a similar fashion, the new Bosniak member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic', offered his own apology to Serbia for the crimes committed against innocent civilians by the Bosnian army during the war. Those are positive acts and gestures of reconciliation, which have had a positive impact in the region and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“In that respect, it is a great pleasure to have President Radmanovic' here, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina in this forum. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Radmanovie on his re-election to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on assuming the Chairmanship of the Presidency yesterday. Let me also congratulate every citizen in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European Union (EU) decision earlier this week to allow visa-free travel for all Bosnians to all the Schengen countries of the European Union. That is a very significant decision, which shows the EU's commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's European future. But it also demonstrates that Bosnia and Herzegovina's political leaders can address difficult reform if they muster the necessary political will.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Mr. Inzko: I thank the Council for giving me the opportunity today to present my fourth report as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the thirty-eighth report altogether. I hope that my presentation will provide a better understanding of the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we stand now and what challenges we will face in the period ahead. It is now exactly 15 years since the Peace Agreement ending the hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina was concluded in Dayton. Since that day, there has been significant progress in the country and Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership of and successful work in the Security Council is just one example of the many improvements that we have seen in the past 15 years.”
2010-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6421 (2010) · source
“Let me conclude by congratulating Bosnia and Herzegovina once again and by wishing it success in its contribution to the work of the Security Council.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“This is the way to get to the objective that we all want to reach - where Bosnia and Herzegovina can move towards full Euro-Atlantic integration under its own steam - and that means with full ownership of the responsibilities that go along with it. I am truly convinced that this possibility can become a reality for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its people have shown on many occasions that they indeed have the talent needed. And I will, as High Representative but also as the EU Special Representative, continue to dedicate all my efforts to assisting and supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts in this direction. The European Union, too, is firmly committed to accompanying Bosnia and Herzegovina on this path, as was confirmed by High Representative Ashton's recent visit to the country.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“In other words, the election campaign can actually be used to create momentum for change, instead of being used as an excuse to keep things as they are. Elections in October could in fact help, particularly if voters both seek to hold their representatives to a real accounting during the campaign and then turn out in force on election day. This year's election will see a surge of young people who are eligible to vote for the first time. This may alter the electoral arithmetic, and even a modest change could produce more constructive coalitions in the next Parliament. That is most likely to happen if the international community remains focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina, requires absolute respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement and continues to foster a constructive atmosphere for constitutional and other reforms.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“Yet the authorities have demonstrated that progress can be made, as they pushed through the reforms that have made the country's bid for visa liberalization with the European Union a credible one. They did this in response to popular pressure on an issue concerning which the connection between reform and immediate benefits for citizens was clear. In this respect, I have repeatedly highlighted the need to stress the causal links between reforms required for Euro-Atlantic integration and the practical benefits citizens will derive from the process. In the case of visa reform, the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have shown that they are able to respond to the logic of popular demand. I believe this can be applied to other reforms that have been blocked until now.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“All this means that the condition according to which the Peace Implementation Council must be in a position to make "a positive assessment of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on full compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement" looks somewhat remote, and it is not clear when a decision to close the Office of the High Representative could be taken. In this respect, let me here welcome the European Council conclusions of 25 January, expressing readiness to extend the executive operation of the EU Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina should the situation require it. I myself remain convinced that we will need this presence beyond 2010 for reassurance purposes.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“Serb and Bosniak leaders rejected the OHR inventory - for opposite reasons. At the same time, the entities have declined to conduct their own assessment of what it is that institutions require in order to function properly. Now, unilateral steps to register properties under the ownership of the entities or the State threaten the whole exercise. NATO's decision in April to make a Membership Action Plan conditional upon the State's taking ownership of properties required by the armed forces has so far shown no sign of producing a breakthrough.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“However, none or very few of the key reforms that would allow the country to take full advantage of this assistance, and which would revive the economy and reverse the decline in employment and living standards, have been enacted during the reporting period; nor have the domestic authorities made any progress on the remaining objectives and conditions - the so-called 5+2 agenda - set by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board in February 2008 for the transition of Office of the High Representative (OHR) to a reinforced EU-led presence. The objectives relating to State and defence property remain unmet. In December 2009 I provided the State, entity and Brcko District Governments with an inventory of the properties in question, but this has yet to jump-start constructive negotiation.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“This chronic political disagreement has occurred at a time when unemployment has continued to rise, living standards have continued to fall, and the capacity of the authorities to meet the basic needs of citizens has been systematically eroded by declining revenue. With great difficulty the relevant authorities are striving to meet the IMF terms for a â‚¬1.2-billion Stand-by Arrangement; at the same time, generous development assistance continues to come from the World Bank, the EU and other international financial institutions and bilateral donors.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“While Republika Srpska representatives would agree to narrow constitutional amendments that would implement the 22 December ruling, Federation politicians, on their side, insist on far more wide-ranging changes, seeking to use the Court's verdict to promote their own very different Visions of how the country should be restructured. The net result is that the European Court of Human Rights ruling will not be put into practice before the 3 October general elections, meaning that this autumn once again not all citizens will be able to candidate to all positions. This issue must therefore be a top priority of the new Government.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“The Federation has considerable difficulty dealing efficiently with the necessary IMF conditions, which may affect Bosnia and Herzegovina's fiscal sustainability in the medium and long terms. In this regard, as far as IMF negotiations are concerned, the situation is much better in Republika Srpska. Let me give another example of the difficulties we face with the 22 December ruling of the European Court of Human Rights against discrimination against minorities in the election to the State-level Presidency and House of Peoples.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“This decision, based on the country's obligations to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, enjoyed the unanimous support of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council. The decision has, however, been strongly criticized by Republika Srpska. Meanwhile, there have been problems in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a divided Government limped from crisis to crisis during the reporting period. The Federation has failed to complete the appointments to Government and judiciary functions and the need to make budget cuts required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the face of determined opposition from members of war veterans' organizations.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“The truth about Srebrenica and other shameful episodes of the war has been well established by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia through criminal investigation, forensic research and testimony scrutinized and tested at war-crimes trials. The way forward is to face the truth and use it to ensure that such crimes are never allowed to happen again, and not to deny the truth. While I have used my executive powers with appropriate restraint, these have been faced with continued resistance from the Republika Srpska. On 14 December, I extended the mandates of foreign judges and prosecutors working in the War Crimes Division of the State Court.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“References in an international gazette to the possible emergence of a new State, and proposals that nationalist politicians should start discussing the peaceful dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina or that the country should not exist at all have been met by counter-statements to the effect that the disaffected elements are welcome to leave, but will not be allowed to take any part of the country with them. Thus, while regional prospects for reconciliation have improved, the language and logic of politics inside Bosnia and Herzegovina appears to have rather deteriorated. After Serbia's Parliament expressed its formal regret in March over the Srebrenica massacres, the Republika Srpska Government threatened to retract its endorsement of the 2004 report which established the facts about the events of July 1995 in Srebrenica.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“The leadership of Republika Srpska has, for example, led the way in undermining State-level institutions and by threatening to hold an entity 3 referendum that would seek to repudiate the authority of the High Representative and decisions under Dayton. Any entity referendum challenging the authority of the Dayton Accords or the High Representative under annex X, or impinging upon the constitutional responsibilities of the State, would be unlawful and endanger the entity itself, as the entities derive their legitimacy from the same Accords.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“The coming and recent visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina by senior politicians and officials of the EU, the United States and elsewhere reflect not only international interest in the country, but also some concern over its inability to take advantage of the possibilities that are now open to it. As I pointed out when I spoke to the Council in November (see S/PV.6222), Bosnia and Herzegovina remains afflicted by a lack of a basic and fundamental consensus about what sort of country it should be or could be - whether a more centralized or a very decentralized State - and how to achieve either option.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“In the same spirit, leaders of the region and the wider international community will gather on 11 July for the fifteenth commemoration of the atrocities in Srebrenica. President Siladeie will be travelling today or tomorrow for an historic, unprecedented Visit to Belgrade to strengthen this new sense of neighbourhood. Similarly, in a gesture of reconciliation, over the coming weekend President Josipovie of Croatia will visit places where atrocities were committed in central and northern Bosnia in a gesture of reconciliation. These represent major steps forward, and we must seize the possibilities that they open up. The informal EU/Western Balkans summit, which should gather some 40 delegations in Sarajevo on 2 June, can additionally boost this trend towards regional reconciliation and forward-looking cooperation.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“In the spirit of regional reconciliation, leaders and parliamentarians in Croatia and Serbia have addressed the tragedy of the 19905 in an honest and decent way. Let me here refer to President Tadie's efforts and to the Serbia Parliament's declaration on the Srebrenica genocide, and to the admission by Croatia of its role in the atrocities of the 1990s. This is creating space for a new and constructive dialogue that will benefit people throughout the Western Balkans. It should be mentioned in this context that Turkey's role in this process has also been constructive, as was illustrated by the signature of the Istanbul Declaration on improving relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source