OSCE supports reforms, political discourse, Chairperson's Special Envoy says during visit to Sarajevo

SARAJEVO, 17 March 2010 - The OSCE is committed to the security, stability and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will continue to promote reforms, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Zhigalov, the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, said during a visit to Sarajevo today.

"Reforms in the field of education, local governance, rule of law and security co-operation are crucial to the country's stability and progress," Zhigalov said. "The OSCE, and particularly its Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, will continue its support in this field."

A successful constitutional reform would require a consensus-based dialogue that engages all political actors and respects the country's diversity, he added.

"An inclusive political discourse, both in the context of constitutional reform and in relation to the campaign for the general elections in October, would also be beneficial for the country's prospects," he said.

Zhigalov also welcomed the unanimous decision among the 56 OSCE participating States last week to appoint Dunja Mijatovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the new OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Zhigalov's agenda for the visit included meetings with the Chairman of the BiH Presidency Haris Silajdzic, Deputy Minister of Foreigh Affairs Ana Trisic-Babic and High Representative and European Union Special Representative Valentin Inzko.

In the meetings, Zhigalov also discussed the Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship plans, highlighting an envisaged informal ministerial meeting set to take place this summer in Almaty. "An informal meeting in Almaty would provide an excellent opportunity to discuss the Corfu Process, the Vienna Document 1999, the OSCE's engagement with Afghanistan and the substance of an OSCE summit," he said.