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

“That success came as Bosnia and Herzegovina had already decided to accelerate the destruction of unsafe weapons and explosives left over from the war and to deploy troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. Those three examples show how Bosnia and Herzegovina can concretely move forward, to the benefit of its citizens and the counties of the region. I believe that an additional factor which strengthened Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress during the reporting period - and one that has received far too little attention - is the recent and much hoped-for improvement in regional cooperation, and consequently in the prospects for regional reconciliation, that is now evident. Put simply, the 10-37267 Western Balkans is a much better neighbourhood now than it was two or three years ago.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“We should use that progress as an incentive to complete the work that still remains ahead. Membership of the Security Council is the greatest and most Visible reflection of Bosnia and Herzegovina's new standing in the international community. In addition, this year, the country has substantially completed the road map that may make it possible for Bosnian citizens to travel to countries in the European Schengen area without first having to apply for a visa. The European Union (EU) recommendation in that regard is still pending, but it could come as early as next week. Furthermore, last month, at its summit in Estonia, NATO agreed to a membership action plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the condition that the issue of State ownership of military real estate is resolved.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“I am also very pleased to see President Silajdzie sitting in the Security Council Chamber today, as it was he who, 18 years ago as Minister for Foreign Affairs, worked tirelessly for Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognition and membership in the United Nations. He did so then without having an office, a mission or even a fax connection. He has witnessed the tremendous progress of his country from war and admission to the Organization to its election to the Security Council. We should keep that achievement of Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign policy at the forefront of our thinking as we deal in detail with the challenges that the country still faces. The country is facing problems that urgently need to be solved, but the fact is that it has come a long way.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“Also at that meeting, the Council President prophetically stated that "All the members of the Council are confident that Bosnia and Herzegovina will make a significant contribution to the work of the Organization" (S/PV3079, p. 4). Upon that historic recommendation, 18 years ago, Bosnia Herzegovina was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by virtue of General Assembly resolution 46/237, adopted without a vote on 22 May 1992. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Bosnia Herzegovina wholeheartedly. I am very glad that, as predicted 18 years ago, Bosnia and Herzegovina is indeed making a significant 10-37267 contribution to the work of the Organization as a non- permanent member of the Security Council.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“Mr. Inzko: These are special days for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it is celebrating 18 years of membership of the United Nations. But they are also special days for my home country of Austria, as it was presiding over the Security Council in the month of May exactly 18 years ago. On 20 May 1992, the then Permanent Representative of Austria, Mr. Peter Hohenfellner, as President of the Security Council, proposed to this body the adoption of a decision recommending to the General Assembly that Bosnia Herzegovina be admitted to the United Nations. At the same meeting, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 755 (1992), which endorsed that recommendation.”
2010-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6319 (2010) · source
“Every report, whether it be a European Union or a United Nations report, is, in a way, seismic, registering any tremor occurring 09-61649 anywhere in the world, whether in Asia, Latin America or Europe, even Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think it is right that it reflect such tremors correctly and precisely. We cannot turn a blind eye to such problems or brush them under the carpet. They will not diminish or disappear if we do so. Of course, I would be delighted, next time, to present a more upbeat report, a report of a sovereign, prosperous, and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina, standing on its own and on its way to being fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic integration. That is the wish of all of us, of course.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Altogether, 180 politicians have been removed, among them three State Presidents. But, as I said, this is a concept of the past. I have used the Bonn powers only in eight areas, and have tried to do so in a way that is transition-driven, exit-driven, "5 plus 2" driven. The use was usually technical and aimed at finding a solution or in cases where the Dayton Agreement had been violated. I did not use the Bonn powers lightly, and, believe me, I was never happy about it, but, as I am the ultimate authority in the theatre, when it comes down to it and there is no other choice, I have to use them. Concerning the report (S/2009/588*), any report is a reflection of reality, and is, I think, more valuable if reality is reflected.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Mr. Inzko: I should just like to make some general brief remarks. I should like to thank everybody for their contributions, support, encouragement, suggestions and, of course, the concern they have shown for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would also like to sincerely thank Mr. Nikola Spiric', Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for his frank and open assessment of the situation. Believe me, he has a very difficult job. I understand that very well. Beyond that, I would like to speak briefly about the confusion that exists about my perceptions on two issues, especially on the Bonn powers. The Bonn powers have been used in the past around 900 times. Lord Ashton once invoked them 60 times in one day. This use of the Bonn powers is something that is now in the past; they are being invoked less and less.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Let us remember that Bosnians and Herzegovinians have shown resilience, creativity and fortitude in the past. I know that, with their help, we can improve the present situation and move ahead to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign, prosperous, stable and democratic country, standing on its own and, in the future, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family. Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing High Representative, Javier Solana, for his efforts to strengthen peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I would like to wish him all the best for his future.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“However, the international community, as I mentioned, will equally have to decide on its future presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because a robust international presence will still be needed after the closure of the Office of the High Representative, as the challenges deriving from the Dayton Agreement will still need to be addressed. But the question will be in what role and with what mandate the international community will stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future. That is an issue that the Peace Implementation Council will have to decide upon in 2010. As I have mentioned before, the international community is now engaged in an intensive exercise which would not only make the country more functional but also support the enormous human capital of the country.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“However, I consider that a continued EUFOR deployment, with an executive mandate, is still important, as it is a guarantee to citizens that the international community will not tolerate the possibility of a return to violence. Despite the somewhat gloomy nature of my report this morning, I am still confident that Bosnia and Herzegovina can break out of the present impasse. The country is now at a crossroads, and the political leaders will now need to decide whether they are ready to fulfil the necessary conditions that would help them move forward on Euro-Atlantic integration and whether they are ready to address the conditions needed for the closure of the Office of the High Representative and the transition to a reinforced EU engagement.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“None of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board members want the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to deteriorate further. At the same time all - and I stress all - of the Steering Board members support full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and that gives us good reason for moderate optimism. I would like to commend the Security Council for its adoption last week of resolution 1895 (2009), approving the extension of the mandate of the European Union military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR). The international community's military presence - down from 60,000 soldiers after the war to 2,000 troops today - is clear evidence of positive developments in the country.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“By the same token, for the past three years, as attention has focused on closing OHR, the use of the Bonn powers has been scaled back. OHR intervention in the domestic political system has been further constrained by the desirability of giving the political actors greater political space to explore possibilities for consensus as part of the current EU- and United States- led negotiating process. The task before us is to complete the rule of law and economic reform agenda, resolve the issue of State and defence property, make provision for continued refugee return and, where necessary, eliminate the political obstructions to those Dayton objectives. I am confident that we can find international consensus on the right way to do this.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“This was confirmed last week by the Peace Implementation Council. The lack of progress on the so called 5+2 agenda by domestic political leaders has also forced me to use my executive powers on a number of occasions. As Council members know, I am the fourth High Representative who has simultaneously held the position of EU Special Representative. There are clear synergies to be derived from this arrangement, but at the same time it has to be recognized that it was initiated when circumstances in Bosnia and Herzegovina were fundamentally different. Thus, the time may have come to review the usefulness of having the two positions held by the same person. This, however, is only one possibility for the way forward that will have to be considered in the coming months.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“As Council members know, in February 2008 the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board drew up five objectives and two requirements that must be met before my Office can be closed to make way for a strengthened EU Special Representative. At that time, it seemed reasonable to expect these objectives and conditions to be met fairly quickly, and in the course of 2008 we saw substantial progress. During the current reporting period, however, we have sometimes also witnessed regression. The two objectives related to State and military property have not yet been met and the conditions for closing the Brcko District supervision have not yet been entirely fulfilled. As a result, the Peace Implementation Council is not at present able to make a positive assessment that would allow for the closure of OHR.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“I have repeatedly welcomed and strongly supported these efforts, and I hope that this joint EU-United States initiative will come to a positive conclusion in early December. The joint EU-United States efforts, as well as the recent visits of the British, Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers and other high-level dignitaries, such as those of President Mesic' last week and Prime Minister Kosor on 2 November, are very important and welcome, but nevertheless a clear indication that continued high-level attention from the wider international community is still needed to keep Bosnia and Herzegovina on the right track. Progress in the EU-United States initiative will have a direct bearing upon the future of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Prime Minister Spiric' has successfully accelerated the adoption of a number of draft laws relevant to the visa liberalization agenda, which we hope will keep the time gap between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other countries of the region as small as possible. It is for the aforementioned political problems that the diplomatic initiative being spearheaded by Carl Bildt for the European Union presidency and James Steinberg for the United States Department of State is so important. This is a resolute attempt to grasp the bull by the horns and sort out the political problem at the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina's present difficulties. This is the highest level political effort since Dayton, and there is no other process ongoing at present.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“However, there has been no agreement to provide for a sustainable solution to this problem, and the strategy for refugee return has been blocked for years now. I want to make it clear that this litany of administrative problems, parliamentary gridlock, and frequent Government stalemate has political, not structural or administrative roots, although such causes also exist. However, there can be progress if there is political will. Clear evidence of this is the progress in addressing the conditions for visa liberalization. I want to commend and thank Prime Minister Spirie and other political leaders in this regard.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“There have been numerous problems in this regard; however, the latest IMF mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina ended successfully last week, which should now open up the disbursement of additional IMF funds. In this regard, I would like to thank Prime Minister Spirie for the speedy and successful negotiations with the IMF. In related areas, progress in the reporting period has been limited and further compromised by the failure, for political reasons, to appoint key personnel. This was also confirmed by the European Commission's progress report in October, which outlined that overall only "limited progress" has been achieved in addressing EU-related reforms. Meanwhile, 120,000 citizens continue to be classified as internally displaced, amid the constant politicization of the issue of refugee return.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“This represents an existential crisis for thousands of families in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a crisis that has been largely ignored by the political establishment. Where there has been any focus at all on the economy, it has concerned the spending cuts that were required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before it would disburse the first tranche of a â‚¬1.2 billion loan in July. The new Federation Prime Minister, Mustafa Mujezinovic, appointed on 25 June after his predecessor resigned amid corruption allegations, has had to face well-orchestrated protests from budget beneficiaries who stand to lose money as a result of the IMF-mandated cuts.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“In other words, from time to time they create a problem at the State level and then criticize the State for having the problem. This is happening at the same time as Bosnia and Herzegovina is desperately struggling to become a member of NATO and the European Union (EU). We thus have a disagreement and confusion over the nature of the entity and the nature and the functions of the State. The second confusion involves the proper focus of politics. As I said earlier, this has been a problem not only in Republika Srpska, but also in the other entity - the Federation. During the reporting period, tens of thousands of jobs were lost in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of the world recession and of the failure to ensure cooperation and proper fiscal 3 coordination in the country.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“The relevant authorities also failed to undertake any serious effort to replace these international judges and prosecutors with local counterparts. This issue is still unresolved, and I fear that a failure to solve the extension of the judges and prosecutors may result in a collapse of the judicial system in the country. It is self-explanatory why the fight against organized crime, corruption and terrorism is so important. Bosnia and Herzegovina's capacity to pursue war crimes trials is equally crucial to the individualization of the guilt and the reconciliation process in general. A consistent pattern can be identified in this behaviour. Parties from Republika Srpska frequently criticize State-level institutions for lack of efficiency at the very same time as they are actively engaged in undermining those same institutions.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“At the same time, the Council of Ministers has failed to make key appointments at the highest level of Government and State agencies. This has further slowed progress and the development of a professional public administration. On 1 October, Serb members of the House of Representatives voted down a law that would have extended the mandates of international judges and prosecutors working in the State court and the Prosecutor's Office, despite repeated requests from all the judicial institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and from non-governmental organizations working in the fields of anti-corruption and war-crimes prosecution to extend the mandate.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“The Republika Srpska leadership has failed to grasp that the State and entity authorities have separate and clearly defined mandates and that each must do its work, complementing the other. This discrepancy in approach has generated considerable difficulties. At the same time, a number of political leaders in the Federation advocate a much stronger role at the State level and a reduced role for the entities in the State structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This too does not contribute to improved dialogue and forward- looking politics. The reporting period has been characterized by persistent political problems and a lack of progress on key agendas in which Bosnia and Herzegovina is involved. As a result, a number of laws that were required for Euro-Atlantic integration and for the 09-61649 closure of my office have been delayed.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Secondly, Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the sustained international effort to integrate the countries of the Western Balkans into Euro-Atlantic structures. The international community cannot and must not abandon its massive investment of political and material resources because of the present difficulties. Resolving the political impasse in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in our interest as well as the interest of the people of that country. The unresolved political issues I mentioned earlier, are a product of two confusions. First, there is confusion in the Republika Srpska over the nature of the entity and the nature of the State; and there is confusion in both entities about the proper focus and functioning of politics and the State as a system.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“When that is done, we can achieve rapid 09-61649 progress towards our final objective: a sovereign, prosperous and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina fully integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures. But we have not yet resolved all the open political issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as a result we have seen a series of obstacles, delays and failures. All of these failures are, basically, a consequence of political differences and, sometimes, obstructionism. I believe, for two reasons, that we will find a way around obstruction. First, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a society with distinctive, if sometimes specific, ways of producing consensus. It may not always be possible to find the most straightforward solution, but I am confident that in due course we will find a Bosnian way, and that this will allow us to reach our ultimate objective.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“However, it is of course also a huge responsibility for the country, which I believe Bosnia and Herzegovina will shoulder well, with the kind and generous assistance of the other members of the Council. For 14 years, the international community has worked with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to rebuild their society, focusing on the practical challenges of post-war recovery and Euro-Atlantic integration. Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina today no longer focuses on practical challenges, but on a fundamental political debate which has, not resolved a number of relevant political problems. The international community is working intensively with its partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina to resolve this debate.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“Mr. Inzko: Allow me before I begin my briefing to recall May 1992, 17 years ago, when the Austrian President of the Security Council, Mr. Hohenfellner, introduced draft resolutions proposing United Nations membership for Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The General Assembly acted accordingly on 22 May 1992 (see A/46/PV.86), and since then Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a State Member of the United Nations. In Slovenia, to this day, that date is celebrated as the day of Slovenian diplomacy. Nor has that important day been forgotten in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Seventeen years later, let me today congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina on its election to a seat on the Security Council. This, in my view, is Bosnia and Herzegovina's greatest foreign policy achievement since the signature of the Dayton Agreement.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“It is exactly such rhetoric and such allegations that have delayed the closure of the Office of the High Representative. In any case, I am still optimistic and I think that based on the next meetings of the Peace Implementation Council at the end of June and in October, we will be able to report further progress.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Spiric' said that imposing a system of governance by international organizations would not be legally valid. Secondly, he said that democracy and the rule of law cannot develop if principles of democracy and the rule of law are not observed by the international community. Those are quite serious allegations, but believe me, I do not take it personally because I have been in Bosnia for only two months. But I must protect my predecessors - Carl Bildt, Carlos Westendorp, Wolfgang Petritsch, Lord Ashdown, Christian Schwarz-Schilling and Miroslav Lajcak - who did an excellent job based on the Dayton Peace Agreement and on the decisions of the Security Council, which gave full support to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. In that respect, I will not accept any challenges to the Dayton Agreement and I think this should stop.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Mr. Inzko: I wish to cordially thank you, Sir, and everybody for their support and for all of their input, ideas, suggestions, analysis and kind words of welcome to me in my new function. I also thank Council members for their offers to continuously cooperate with me and with my Office. I also thank the Council for its support on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Peace Implementation Council, the Contact Group, the European Union military mission, the police mission and other configurations, including past European Union presidencies, the current Czech Presidency and the fiiture 22 presidencies of Sweden and Spain. I also thank all neighbouring States for their support. As far as the statement of Prime Minister Spirie is concerned, two sentences caught my attention. First, Mr.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“I will need the Council's support in countering that. I have outlined the progress that we have made and the obstacles we have encountered. The fact is that there is progress, although it is slow, and we have reason to believe that the positive will win out over the negative. That is what the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina want and that is what we must continue to help them to achieve. As I said during a recent meeting with civic activists, the majority of citizens undoubtedly believe in doing what is necessary and right. That is the real majority in Bosnia and Herzegovina - not an ethnic majority but a majority of those who want to live in a free and prosperous country that is part of the European Union. I am on the side of that majority and I believe that it will prevail.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Following the joint visit in April by the three EU presidency Foreign Ministers - Ministers Kouchner, Schwarzenberg and Bildt - the joint visit by Vice- President Biden and High Representative Solana on 19 May attested both to a strong common approach and the EU's seriousness about the need for a robust and tailor-made strategy for the future EU Special Representative in the country. Current domestic circumstances make such enhanced involvement by the EU and the wider international community essential. The vast majority of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to support Euro-Atlantic integration and the prosperity, security and self-respect it would bring. Although we have seen signs of progress, in general the nationalistic political dynamic routinely overrides popular sentiment.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Given the failure of domestic authorities to deliver on all five objectives set by the PIC Steering Board, the Board did not consider the issue of transition when it met in late March. While I can report that there has been progress on State and defence property issues, at this stage it appears rather unlikely that the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board will take a decision to close the Office of the High Representative when it meets in late June. However, I believe that the objectives and the conditions can be delivered before the PIC meeting in October. The PIC could then possibly be in a position to decide on the closure of the Office and the transition to the EU's Special Representative.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“My aim is now to engage political leaders so that an appropriate solution can be found as quickly as possible. The defence property issue is less complicated and less important to the political parties, but is nonetheless crucial to cementing defence reform and sustaining Bosnia and Herzegovina's hopes of joining NATO. We had previously assumed that a settlement would follow naturally. However, it now seems necessary to deal separately with the issue of what real estate the armed forces are to possess. The issue of surplus weaponry, ordnance and equipment has long been settled, at least in theory. My Office, together with NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, will now focus on quickly resolving the issue of military real estate and property.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“They are the constitutional amendment to secure completion of the Brcko Final Arbitral Award and the entrenchment of the rule of law through the adoption of a Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy for the domestic prosecution of war crimes, as well as action plans to implement a justice-sector reform strategy over the period 2009 to 2013. That leaves two unmet objectives, relating to acceptable and sustainable agreement on apportioning ownership of State property and defence property between the State and its entities. My Office has long argued that, as a first step, the Council of Ministers should initiate an inventory of the property involved. The Council of Ministers eventually agreed to do so, for which I thank Chairman Spirie, and has set up a working group with a deadline of 30 September to complete the process.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“The positions of the main parties remain far apart, but the onus is now on them to engage in serious dialogue, and then reach agreements that reflect their EU aspirations and can secure a two- thirds majority in Parliament. I will assist them in my capacity as EU Special Representative. Do they have the capacity to succeed in this? I believe they do. Do they have the political will? Only they can answer that question. Of the five objectives and two conditions set by the PIC for the transition of the Office of the High Representative into a reinforced office of the EU Special Representative, three objectives can now be considered as having been met. Two of them were completed during this reporting period.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“That campaign has also blocked the passage of State legislation required to complete the EU's road map for the elimination of visas for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens travelling to EU States. It has also for some time blocked other State legislation that would fulfil Bosnia and Herzegovina's obligations under the Stabilization and Association Process. While Bosniak and Croat politicians have of late generally avoided wholesale attacks on Republika Srpska's legitimacy, it should be noted that Federation- based media have maintained an offensive stance towards the other entity. As 2010 is a general election year, there is now only a small window of opportunity to start work on even minimal constitutional reforms, particularly if those are to entail any revisions of the election law, which they surely will.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“That is all taking place at a time when the State Investigation and Protection Agency has submitted a preliminary report to the State Prosecutor on possible financial wrongdoing by the Prime Minister. On 14 May, those attacks culminated in the adoption by the Republika Srspka National Assembly of conclusions that call for the return of 68 competencies allegedly stolen by the State. The conclusions also undermine the legitimacy of the decisions of the Peace Implementation Council and the Office of the High Representative, as well as those of the previous High Representatives. I take that seriously, and I take people at their word. My basic role as High Representative is to uphold the Dayton Peace Agreement, at the centre of which is the sovereignty of the State and the competencies of its institutions. I will not let those be challenged.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“We will focus, of course, in the weeks to come, on this issue to ensure its completion. Notwithstanding the positive achievements that have been made, divisive rhetoric and official resolutions challenging the sovereignty, constitutional order and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina all continued during the reporting period, principally on the part of Republika Srpska. That entity has, in official Government and National Assembly documents, on several occasions referred to the possibility of unilateral self-determination. Its leaders have been in the forefront of attacks on the legitimacy of State institutions - judicial, prosecutorial, policing, economic, intelligence and defence - as well as in the forefront of efforts to reverse previous State-building and EU-mandated reforms.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“In addition, the National War Crimes Strategy was finally adopted in late December. This Strategy was part of the fifth objective - the entrenchment of the rule of law - set by the PIC to allow for the transition from the Office of the High Representative to the EU Special Representative. Progress on the second objective - apportionment of State property - has been more limited, due to the inability of the Prud three to compromise on this issue. However, pressure on and cooperation with local actors has recently brought a first move forward in this area, with the initiation in late April of the long-delayed process of the inventory of State property, which provides the necessary legal framework. I would like to expressly thank Prime Minister Spiric' for his efforts and input in this regard.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“This amendment defines the status of the Brcko District and provides it with direct access to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court in the event of any dispute with the State or entities. Not only was the enactment of such an amendment one of the five objectives set out by the PIC Steering Board as prerequisites for a transition from the Office of the High Representative to the EU Special Representative, it was also a condition for the Supervisor to do away with the Arbitral Tribunal and for the PIC Steering Board to terminate the supervisory regime. That could now happen soon. Other positive news included the agreement among the State, entities and Brcko District on the budget framework for 2009, which enabled a relatively early adoption of the budget.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Unfortunately, the Prud process lost momentum, and the three party leaders have not met on their own again since late March, though they have been brought together by the international community on a number of occasions, recently by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of three successive EU presidencies - Ministers Bildt, Kouchner and Schwarzenberg - and then, last week, by United States Vice President Joe Biden and EU High Representative for the Common 09-35192 Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. On each occasion, the three leaders expressed their commitment to continuing their dialogue. Foremost among the achievements facilitated by the Prud process has been the passage on 26 March of the first-ever amendment to the country's 1995 Dayton Constitution.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Periodic meetings of the "Prud three" over a three-month period resulted in various compromise agreements and prospective agreements on major issues, ranging from the question of a State budget for 2009 to the promise to initiate talks on constitutional reforms and the early fulfilment of parts of the outstanding objectives and conditions set by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in February 2008 for the closure of my Office and its transformation into an EU-led presence.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“This was the initiation, in November 2008, of the so-called Prud process of dialogue among leaders of the three largest national parties and coalition partners at the State level: Dragan Covic of the Croatian Democratic Community; Sulejman Tihic of the Bosniac Party of Democratic Action; and Milorad Dodik of the Serb Alliance of Independent Social Democrats. My Office and I have supported this process since it represents a home- grown political initiative for dialogue and cooperation.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“The Federation's finances are especially dire, and its capacity to agree upon and implement cuts in the face of strong vested interests is rather weak. The Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina is, in this regard, for the time being, in a better position. In these circumstances, it is clear that obstruction of urgent reforms that would help improve living conditions is absolutely unjustified on moral as well as political grounds. I will seek to keep this plain fact at the centre of public debate in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, I will seek a change in the political paradigm that downgrades practical and pressing economic issues and stresses instead a strident and unhelpful kind of posturing. My predecessor reported last December on a highly hopeful development towards overcoming the political stalemate.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Last week, United States Vice- President Biden and European Union (EU) High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Solana were in Bosnia and Herzegovina in an unprecedented joint Visit. The focus was extremely useful and warmly welcomed by the population. However, the poor performance on EU and transatlantic integration is deplorable, particularly as the world recession now also threatens the fragile economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The State and entities' successful negotiation of a â‚¬l.2 billion stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed an 09-35192 unusual degree of common purpose, but the reforms agreed with the IMF will have the desired result only if the authorities take appropriate and targeted steps.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Mr. Inzko: Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the opportunity to present my first report as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have been in office just two months, but I will update the Council on significant events over the past six months. I will also outline my priorities. Some progress has been made towards our objective of making Bosnia and Herzegovina a peaceful, viable State, irreversibly on course for European integration. Equally on the positive side, the country remains stable and the physical environment is secure. On a less positive note, however, the State is not yet fully viable and its role and competencies are contested by some of its political leaders. As a result, recent progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration has been modest, and as a consequence, the country still requires high attention.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source