Newsroom
OSCE calls on parties to finish forming governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 5 February 2001
SARAJEVO, 5 February 2001 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court that upholds the authority of the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) to pass rules and regulations governing the elections process until a permanent election law is passed.
The OSCE expects the HDZ-BiH to fulfill the commitment it made to abide by the court's decision and complete the process of forming cantonal assemblies and electing delegates to the BiH and Federation Houses of Peoples as soon as the court announced a decision. In addition, the HDZ agreed to abide by the PEC Rules and Regulations when it registered to run in the November 2000 general elections, and this is a commitment that the OSCE expects the HDZ to take seriously.
"The Constitutional Court has taken its decision, and it is time to move on and finish the process of implementing the November 2000 election results. With teachers beginning to strike, police and other civil servants complaining about not being paid, and social tensions rising, there is clearly no more room for delay," said OSCE Head of Mission and PEC Chairman Ambassador Robert L. Barry.
"The way for the HDZ and other parties to best represent their constituents is by participating in the elected bodies, and by participating in the deliberations, discussions, and passage of a permanent election law and entity constitutional amendments, which is essential for Bosnia and Herzegovina as it applies to join the institutions of Europe," he said.
The international community has shown patience with the slow pace of election results implementation during the period when the Constitutional Court was considering the HDZ complaint. However, with the decision now announced, the OSCE expects no further delays, particularly in the implementation of the results in the Western Herzegovina and Livno
cantons, which, in contravention of their own constitutions, have not yet held inaugural sessions.
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.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at +(387-33) 292-449.
The OSCE expects the HDZ-BiH to fulfill the commitment it made to abide by the court's decision and complete the process of forming cantonal assemblies and electing delegates to the BiH and Federation Houses of Peoples as soon as the court announced a decision. In addition, the HDZ agreed to abide by the PEC Rules and Regulations when it registered to run in the November 2000 general elections, and this is a commitment that the OSCE expects the HDZ to take seriously.
"The Constitutional Court has taken its decision, and it is time to move on and finish the process of implementing the November 2000 election results. With teachers beginning to strike, police and other civil servants complaining about not being paid, and social tensions rising, there is clearly no more room for delay," said OSCE Head of Mission and PEC Chairman Ambassador Robert L. Barry.
"The way for the HDZ and other parties to best represent their constituents is by participating in the elected bodies, and by participating in the deliberations, discussions, and passage of a permanent election law and entity constitutional amendments, which is essential for Bosnia and Herzegovina as it applies to join the institutions of Europe," he said.
The international community has shown patience with the slow pace of election results implementation during the period when the Constitutional Court was considering the HDZ complaint. However, with the decision now announced, the OSCE expects no further delays, particularly in the implementation of the results in the Western Herzegovina and Livno
cantons, which, in contravention of their own constitutions, have not yet held inaugural sessions.
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.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at +(387-33) 292-449.