SDA CAUCUS HAS PREPARED A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO POLICE REFORM LAWS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 3,2008) – The Bosnian Minister of Security Tarik Sadovic stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that the SDA Party Caucus at the Bosnian Parliamentary Assembly prepared a “number of amendments to the two proposals for the police reform laws aimed to improve the laws’ texts”.

”We are not optimistic related to adoption of the amendments”, Sadovic stated and assed that both these laws were supported in the first reading in the parliamentary houses. What follows is the phase of amendments.

Sadovic expressed concerns over the fact that the text of the existing laws does not contain neither of the three EU principles on police reform.

”That worries us greatly. I clearly heard at the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Main Board session that the Office of the International community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) and the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM) are authorized to state whether or not the EU principles have been implemented or not. If not, the question is why has the EU given up the principles”, Sadovic stated.

He added that he has had an opportunity to see almost all the documents of the PIC Main Board’s communiqué and several letters of the Commissioner for Expansion Olli Rehn.

”In each of the three letters, police reform based on the three principles was emphasized. It is strange for us at the SDA party that we are to be given something that is not the police reform, under the excuse for signing the SAA. My party’s position is that Bosnia should sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and European Union, but we also need a good police reform. That means that wee need to get a multiethnic police, based on the EU standards and in the function of efficient fight against all forms of crime”, Minister Sadovic said.
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PEACE IMPLEMENTATION COUNCIL RENEWED OHR'S MANDATE IN BOSNIA

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 29,2008) - Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB) noted that, since October, Bosnia has made progress with regard to the Stabilisation and association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board welcomes the initialling of the SAA by Bosnia that took place on 4 December 2007. The signing of the SAA is finally in reach as soon as the necessary conditions are met,the Office of the International community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) said.

However, important underlying problems, which gave rise to recent crises, remain in Bosnia. There have been attempts to weaken progressively the institutions and legitimacy of the state. There have been renewed tensions between political actors over the future constitutional make-up of the country as well as the role and competencies of the state. The limited degree of cooperation among Bosnia's pliticians shown in late 2007 has deteriorated. There have also been unacceptable challenges to the Dayton Peace Agreement,the OHR said.

The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board expressed deep concern with regard to the calls for secession by the genocidal serbian creature in Bosnia (RS). The PIC SB strongly emphasizes that under the Dayton Peace Agreement an entity has no right to secede from Bosnia.

As previously stated, the PIC SB is also concerned by statements calling the existence of entities into question.

The Steering Board underlined once again that Bosnia is a recognised sovereign state whose territorial integrity is guaranteed by the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Steering Board recalls that the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina recognises that Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two entities and that Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs are constituent peoples. The Steering Board remains fully committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement,the OHR said.

The PIC Steering Board reiterated that Bosnia's politicians must end the practice of threatening unilateral changes to the constitutional structure of the country. All parties must comply fully with the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Steering Board underlines that the International Community retains the necessary instruments to counter destructive tendencies and that it will not allow attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement, whether from inside or outside the country. All signatories and parties are obliged under Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement to cooperate fully with the High Representative and his staff. Decisions of the High Representative must be fully respected and promptly implemented.

With regard to police reform, the PIC SB encourages Bosnia's politicians to take forward the debate in the Bosnian +Parliament and to adopt police reform legislation in line with the Mostar Declaration and the subsequent Action Plan and consistent with EU requirements as a matter of urgency,OHR said.

The PIC SB encourages the Bosnian Council of Ministers to continue to move forward on the reform agenda with determination, and to adopt an action plan as a response to the European Partnership,OHR said.

The PIC SB welcomes the adoption of the Platform for Action and the progress made towards realising some of its objectives, including fiscal coordination. However, much more needs to be done,OHR said.

The PIC SB noted that political party leaders in Bosnia have had initial discussions on constitutional reform and that this issue is also reflected in the Mostar Declaration and the Action Plan. The Steering Board reaffirmed its view that constitutional reform will be necessary in order to equip Bosnia to meet the requirements of a modern European state.

The PIC SB underlined the importance of a free and independent Bosnian media, and noted that the Dayton Peace Agreement obliges Bosnia to ensure the highest level of internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard the PIC SB welcomed the visit of the OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media to Bosnia.

In line with the decision taken at its October 2007 meeting, the PIC Steering Board reviewed the situation. It endorsed the following recommendations of the the International community's High Representative (HR) in Bosnia regarding the future of the OHR.

Having assessed developments in Bosnia over the past months, the PIC SB reiterated that transition and ownership remain the goals. It is for Bosnian's politicians, in the first place, to create the conditions for transition to occur, which should happen in the shortest possible time. The PIC SB and the broader International Community stand ready to support Bosnia in creating the necessary conditions,the OHR said.

Bosnia as a “peaceful, viable state irreversibly on course for European integration” has been the longstanding objective of the PIC Steering Board and achieving this objective has been the focus of OHR’s work.

The OHR Work Plan approved by the PIC Steering Board in April 2007, contains a number of longstanding objectives that the PIC Steering Board considers to be essential for the creation of such a peaceful, viable state. For this reason, the PIC Steering Board has decided that the most critical issues contained in the OHR Work Plan be considered objectives that need to be achieved by the BiH authorities prior to transition. These objectives are well established, approved by the PIC SB and have all been previously recognized by the Bosnian authorities as obligations.

The objectives that will need to be delivered by the BiH authorities prior to transition are:

-Acceptable and Sustainable Resolution of the Issue of Apportionment of Property between State and other levels of government

-Acceptable and Sustainable Resolution of Defence Property

-Completion of the Brcko Final Award

-Fiscal Sustainability (promoted through an Agreement on a Permanent ITA Co-efficient methodology and establishment of a National Fiscal Council)

-Entrenchment of the Rule of Law (demonstrated through Adoption of National War Crimes Strategy, passage of Law on Aliens and Asylum, and adoption of National Justice Sector Reform Strategy).

In addition to the objectives listed above, the PIC Steering Board agreed that two conditions need to be fulfilled prior to transition: Signing of the SAA and a positive assessment of the political situation in Bosnia by the PIC SB based on full compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The signing of the SAA is not part of OHR’s Work Plan. However, it is an important requirement for transition and necessary to demonstrate Bosnia’s progress towards membership of the European Union,the OHR said.

The political situation in Bosnia has previously been defined by the PIC SB as a criterion for decision-making on OHR closure and transition. It remains crucial that Bosnia's political leaders fully comply with the Dayton Peace Agreement avoiding any rhetoric or action that would threaten or violate the Peace Agreement,the OHR said.

The achievement of the above mentioned objectives and fulfilment of the conditions will facilitate transition. The PIC Steering Board urged the Bosnian authorities to achieve these objectives and contribute to fulfilling these conditions as soon as possible. The High Representative stands ready to advise and work with the Bosnian state institutions in this regard,the OHR said.

The PIC SB underscored its full support for the High Representative to facilitate accomplishment of these objectives in a manner consistent with the overall goal of entrenching reform and ensuring Bosnia meets its commitments for Euro-Atlantic integration. The PIC SB requests the HR to undertake all appropriate measures to ensure that the above objectives are met.

OHR will remain in place and continue to carry out its mandate under the Dayton Peace Agreement, ensuring full respect of the Peace Agreement.

The PIC SB reiterated the view that a reinforced EUSR Office would constitute an important part of the EU’s comprehensive engagement after OHR. The Steering Board looked forward to a renewed exchange of information on the respective planning processes.

The PIC SB calls upon Serbia, a Dayton signatory, as well as the authorities in Bosnia, especially those in the genocidal Serbian creature in bosnia ("RS"), to abide by their obligations under international law to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), playing a proactive role in apprehending all remaining indictees, including Serbian war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, without further delay, dismantling the networks offering support to such fugitives, and ensuring they are transferred to the ICTY,the OHR said.

The OHR will monitor progress against objectives and conditions and the PIC Steering Board will keep the situation under constant review. The next meeting of Political Directors will take place in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo on 24 and 25 June 2008.
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC: OHR'S MANDATE SHOULD BE EXPANDED

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 28,2008) – The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Managing Board and members of the Bosnian Presidency stated yesterday that the Dayton Peace Agreement needs to be implemented and that the EU and NATO associations are the only alternative Bosnia has.

Differences regarding dynamics, methodology, necessary conditions and the role of the International Community in the process have remained mainly the same.

The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak stated that there is an enormous misbalance between the citizens’ expectations and practical actions of their elected political representatives, in relation to reform processes like reconstruction of police forces and administrative reform. “Leaders are absolutely responsible”, Lajcak concluded.

The President of the Bosnian Presidency Zeljko Komsic advocated that the conditions for a serious step forward to the EU should be made as son as possible. In that sense, he mentioned signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the European Union. He also expressed reserves that the most important priorities in the process are “listed” the best way.

For him, the most important issue and the main priority of all the factors in the country, including the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR), should be the country’s security and personal security of all Bosnian citizens.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic is of the opinion that the OHR’s mandate is not disputable, and neither is reorganization of the present Office in the process of Bosnia’s association to the EU, for, Komsic stated,the OHR has not been acting as efficiently as necessary lately.

Haris Silajdzic, a member of the Bosnian Presidency, is of the opinion that the OHR’s mandate should be expanded and that the Office should use all the Bonn Powers singed December 1997.

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic is of the opinion that the transformation of the OHR to the EU Office is a natural process and that the International Community’s authorities in Bosnia will be “in accordance to the conditions the country is in”.

At the end of the meeting yesterday,the Peace Implementation Council Main Board condemned a resolution against Kosovo independence proclamation adopted recently by the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia ("RS").
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SPIRIC URGED PIC TO SUPPORT BOSNIA'S EU INTEGRATION

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 28,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric stated that the political situation in Bosnia is much better now comparing the situation at the time of the last session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Managing Board.

Spiric stated that the activities of the Bosnian Council of Ministers are based on two ideas – further integration of Bosnia into the EU and the full membership in the NATO.

”Bosnia on December 4 2007 initialed the Stabilisation a nd Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU and the Bosnian Council of Ministers took obligations derived from it very seriously”, stated Spiric.

Regarding the police reform, he informed PIC that based on the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan for police reform,the Bosnian Council of Ministers on February 14 confirmed and sent into parliamentary procedure draft law on the Direction for police bodies coordination and agencies for the support to the police structure in Bosnia as well as the draft law on independent supervisory bodies of the police structure.

”Both laws were adopted in the first reading in the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives and House of Peoples. I expect for these laws to be presented in the House of Representatives for the second reading in the session’s Agenda on March 5”, stated Spiric.

He added that every reform is a matter of process, not moment. “I have appealed to all chosen authorities to choose further integrations over ideal laws”, added Spiric.

He estimated that the issue of further integrations needs a wide consensus but that no one has the right to stop the processes and for Bosnia to waste the chance given by Brussels. He expressed optimism that reason and responsibility will prevail and both laws would be adopted at the second reading.

”I appeal to you to encourage those political forces which expressed doubts since it is clear that these two laws do not complete the police reform but they make those first steps which would not allow us to go back any more”, added Spiric.

He concluded that there is progress in the public management reform which was noted in the report of European Commission last week.

Spiric underlined that the basic program goal of the Bosnian government, except from the EU integrations processes, is the full membership in NATO.

He informed PIC that the Bosnian Council of Ministers concluded a number of other important draft laws such as budget law, law on criminal proceedings, law on medications and other medical supplies, law on salaries and employment fees in the Bosnian state institutions, as well as the law on fiscal council.

Spiric stated that the Bosnian Council of Ministers has the list of priorities such as solving the status the state property, attracting foreign investments, economic development, and census, strategy for the fight against corruption and framework employment strategy.

He added that these days the issue of the future of the Office of the International Community's High Representative in bosnia (OHR) is very much discussed.

Spiric appealed to PIC to support Bosnia on its road towards the EU and again underlined the importance of signing the SAA as soon as possible.

"As I have already mentioned, after the Dayton Agreement, the SAA is the most important agreement for Bosnia which should bring together all creative potentials and ensure that Bosnia rises above futile and somewhat hysteric political games”, concluded Spiric.
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SDA: POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH DO NOT ADVOCATE INTERESTS OF BOSNIA WANT TO SEE OHR DISMISSED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 26, 2008) – The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) is against the attempts of annulment of the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) or redefinition of its role.

”OHR’s role cannot be changed before this country’s Constitution is changed. Dayton Agreement cannot function without the Annex 10, which is related to the OHR. It serves to unblock all the obstacles that have been put into the Dayton Agreement”,the SDA Party said yesterday.

The Party of Democratic Action added that annulment of the OHR or the Bonn Powers is advocated by political forces that have been obstructing reform processes in Bosnia.Also,their contribution to the country is questionable.

The SDA is of the opinion that the OHR can be dismissed once Bosnia becomes an EU and NATO member.

The party calls the Peace Implementation Council not to let destabilization of Bosnia which would happen if the OHR is closed.

”The political crisis in Bosnia that happened two months ago clearly warns us against that move”, the SDA stated.

The Peace Implementation council (PIC) is the only body that can decide on the future of the OHR, Oleg Milisic, OHR's Spokesperson stated yesterday.

He said that in a reaction to attitudes presented by the prime minister of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia ("the RS") Milorad Dodik who stated that the OHR should end its mission in Bosnia.

Milisic could not confirm if the PIC will discuss the fate of OHR at the meeting that is to be held in Brussels in late February, but did say that this body will continue monitoring the political and security situation in Bosnia.