02/09/2021 OSCE/EU/OHR/US/UK

Joint Statement on the City Council of Mostar

Joint Statement on the City Council of Mostar by the OSCE Mission to BiH,
the European Union Delegation/European Union Special Representative,
the Embassy of the United Kingdom, the Embassy of the United States,
and the Office of the High Representative

SARAJEVO, 9 February 2021 – On February 5, the newly appointed City Council of Mostar adopted a decision to conduct the election of the mayor of Mostar by public ballot. This decision contravenes Article 36 of the Statute of Mostar, which states that the elections in the City Council must be conducted by secret ballot. We, the undersigned, call on the City Council to bring its voting procedures back into compliance with the Statute of Mostar and to repeat the first round of elections for the mayor of Mostar. A country aspiring to become an EU Member State must adhere to the principles of the rule of law. We call upon all city councilors to show responsibility and to swiftly elect the Mayor in full accordance with the rule of law and the Statute of Mostar in its next session.

* European Union Delegation/European Union Special Representative, the Embassy of the United Kingdom, the Embassy of the United States, the OSCE Mission to BiH, and the Office of the High Representative