18.09.2009 PIC SB Ambassadors

Statement by the Ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board

The Ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board note with concern that operations of Elektroprenos BiH have continued to seriously deteriorate as a result of the actions and obstructions by the RS authorities and their representatives.

This is a direct challenge to the conclusions of the PIC Steering Board Declaration of 31 October 2007, Communiqués of 25 June 2008 and 30 June 2009, and the statement by the PIC Steering Board Ambassadors of 12 September 2008.

The Ambassadors remind of the clear position set out by the PIC Steering Board in its Communiqué of 30 June 2009 regarding possible unilateral action of this nature by the entities, when it noted that: “attempts to roll back previously agreed reforms and to weaken existing state level institutions display open disrespect for the fundamental principles of the GFAP, are unacceptable and have to stop.”

Therefore, the PIC Steering Board Ambassadors give today their full support to the High Representative to undertake measures to maintain continuity of business operations of Elektroprenos BiH in accordance with the law, thus ensuring its undisturbed public service to the benefit of all citizens of BiH.

The PIC Steering Board Ambassadors expect the RS authorities and their representatives to work within the established institutions and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in this case Elektroprenos BiH, as well as to work in good faith and in the spirit of compromise to improve the functionality of this public service provider. A failure to deliver on this expectation would be regarded as a clear attempt to weaken an important state-level institution and a significant setback in the EU integration process.