Chairman-in-Office: delaying tactics are affecting stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BUCHAREST, 16 February 2001 - The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, today warned that delays in forming governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina are having a detrimental effect on the situation in the country. He called on the political parties to end delaying tactics, form the governments at all levels, and elect delegates for the parliaments at the Federation and State levels.

"We call on all political parties to respect the results of the elections, to obey the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to fulfil the obligations that they accepted by participating in the November 2000 elections," Mr. Geoana said. "It has been three months since general elections were held and the process remains stalled at the State and Federation levels. These delays are having a detrimental effect on the economic and social situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

His statement follows the decision by the Croat Democratic Party (HDZ) not to co-operate in the implementation of election results at the State and Federation levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision has been criticized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Office of the High Representative.

"The High Representative and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina have shown patience during the period when the constitutional court was considering the HDZ complaint against the OSCE. However, the court issued its decision on 2 February rejecting the HDZ appeal," Mr. Geoana said.

The statutes of cantons and the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina set clear deadlines for holding inaugural sessions for these bodies, and these deadlines have long since passed, he added.

"The current constitutional framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina provides for the protection of every person's fundamental rights, including language, religion and culture," Mr. Geoana said. "Protection of these rights can be best insured through participation in legislative bodies."

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