OSCE remains major actor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, says new High Representative Schwarz-Schilling

VIENNA, 16 March 2006 - Christian Schwarz-Schilling, the new High Representative and European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscored today the importance of continued close co-operation between the OSCE and his Office to move the country toward full partnership with Europe.

"We can only move forward in broad policy areas with the support of the entire international community - and in several areas only with the specific support of the OSCE," he told the Organization's 55 participating States at a meeting of its Permanent Council in Vienna.

"I believe that there is a very clear synergy between the Office of the High Representative/EU Special Representative on the one hand and the OSCE on the other," he said. "I know the strengths of the OSCE and I believe we have the capacity and the disposition to work well together."

Mr Schwarz-Schilling also proposed the establishment of a joint working group to co-ordinate activities in a "continuous and productive way" in the fields of elections, education, human rights and justice reform.

"Better co-ordination between my Office's top-down and the OSCE's bottom-up approach in the non-governmental sector, particularly in terms of providing each other with available expertise and resources, could significantly contribute to the development of an informed, active and engaged civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.

Mr Schwarz-Schilling, who succeeds Lord Paddy Ashdown in this post, also pointed to the importance of the outcome of the general elections scheduled in October. "This will determine the success or failure of Bosnia and Herzegovina's transition to a market economy and its final push for Euro-Atlantic integration, ultimately for membership in the EU and NATO," he said.

The High Representative said that, despite some disappointments in economic reform, the overall trend had been very positive, but that the benefits of these improvements now needed to be brought to the country's citizens.

"I believe that firms in this country now have a business environment in which they can compete and prosper, and I intend to work vigorously to further improve this environment, to be the 'Pied Piper' of investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.

Mr Schwarz-Schilling also said that his Office would continue to support the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its work in the politico-military dimension, which includes assistance in destroying excess stockpiles of ammunition as well as small arms and light weapons.