OSCE Chairman-in-Office to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

VIENNA, 1 June 1999 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, will visit Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Zagreb on 2-4 June.

The OSCE is playing a central role in supporting the development of vital democratic societies in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. The visit forms part of the efforts of the Chairman-in-Office to visit all countries where the OSCE is involved. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Chairman-in-Office will meet with the Bosnian Presidency and members of the Government as well as representatives of the OSCE Mission, the Office of the High Representative and SFOR. He will also pay a visit to the Republika Srpska. In Croatia, Minister Vollebaek will meet with President Franjo Tudjman and members of the Government as well as representatives of the OSCE Mission, opposition parties and the Serb minority.

Issues to be discussed during the visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina include the status of implementation of the Dayton Agreement and the still unresolved political situation in the Republika Srpska. In Croatia, the topics will include the political situation in the country, the refugee return process and minority rights.

Minister Vollebaek will also take the opportunity to discuss the role of the OSCE in the Balkans and the need for more co-ordination of the international effort at the regional level.