OSCE Chairperson-in-Office seeks political and economic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 2 October 2000 - On a one-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, urged lawmakers and politicians of the country to implement much needed reforms.

In all her meetings, the Chairperson-in-Office stressed that concrete steps must be taken in order to ensure that the process of integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the rest of the international community continues. Such steps include the adoption of an election law, the removal of trade barriers between the political entities of the country and the implementation of the property laws. Ms. Ferrero-Waldner also asked for stronger engagement at all levels to create conditions for sustainable returns of refugees and displaced persons.

The Chairperson-in-Office also delivered a direct message to the voters of Bosnia and Herzegovina: "At the upcoming elections, voters have a real choice to vote for change. If politicians standing for democratic values and concepts will be voted into power, integration with the rest of the world will be speeded up. If nationalist politicians prevail, the process of integration will be further slowed down."

On 11 November, elections will be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the national parliament, for the two parliaments of the entities of the country as well as for the presidency of the Bosnian Serb Republic. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is organizing these elections.

During her visit to Sarajevo today, the Chairperson-in-Office met with the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Jadranko Prlic as well as with representatives of opposition parties. She also had a meeting with the High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch, the Head of the UN Mission Jacques Klein, the UNHCR Head of Mission Werner Blattner and the SFOR Commander LtGen Michael L. Dodson.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org