|
Christian Schwarz-Schilling, High Representative
We Need No International Conference on the BiH
Future
I will allow no referendums ● Delegates found time to discuss their own
benefits but not the citizens' ● I will intervene only if the circumstances are
grave
High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling does not support an
initiative of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader regarding an international
conference on Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
In his
interview for Dnevni avaz he reflected both on that issue as well as the stories
about referendum on secession of Republika Srpska, displeased decertified police
officers, imminent privatisation of all three telecom operators.
Bad delegates
□ How do you comment performance of the delegates? How many laws have
they adopted since you recently addressed the Parliament?
- I spoke before the Parliament on the 24th of May this year and at that time
I presented the list of laws which should be passed: from the Law on Higher
Education, through the Law on Salaries, Banking Supervision System, Fiscal
Council, Pharmaceutical Law...
As far as
I can see only the Law on Pharmaceuticals has some chance to be adopted soon.
Other laws, the ones that would significantly improve lives of ordinary
citizens, will have to wait. Parliamentarians did not find the time to talk
about that. However they did find the time to talk in details about how to
increase their salaries or enjoy privileged pensions. I am disappointed by such
performance of delegates!
It is not
a way in which BiH politicians should act in this important political
moment.
□ Well? Are you going to act in response? Impose laws?
- No. I will not impose laws. I have clearly said that I will not act in
legislative, administrative and judicial institutions. It has nothing to do with
democracy and attempts to develop institutions. Even though I am dissatisfied
with the Parliament, the delegates must see themselves that this manner of work
is not good, it gives no result… Furthermore by this I show delegates and
politicians the consequences of their failure to work. Some of them try to
convince me that it is the time for me to go and at the same time they do
nothing as I am here. Imagine how what they will do when I leave?
Status of decertified police officers
- I took
the office of the High Representative in February this year. In April I
organised the first meeting with United Nations authorities at which the issue
of decertified police officers was discussed. The issue is not simple at all,
particularly in the UN context, which is very difficult to change or bring on to
admit a mistake.
When I
started to deal with this issue there was no one in the UN who would wish to
talk about that. The situation changed now and they negotiate at the expert
level how to solve the status of these people. I wish to emphasise that I
understand their position and I am doing my best to improve it. Nevertheless,
things are not that simple and demand a lot of energy and time. I hope that it
will settle in the best way and I am maximally devoted to that.
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that you will not leave
nor will the OHR be closed if nationalist forces win the coming elections. Is
that true?
- First, the decision on the closure of the OHR is not final. It will be
verified next February. That is when we will know what exactly to do.
Second, what are nationalist parties? Let me say one thing: we will wait for
the results of the elections, and then we will know where we stand. I can only
say that, if extreme parties won, we would have to reconsider our further moves
very carefully.
- Speaking about elections, which are your favourites?
- My role here
is not to have any favourites! The voters of this country have to think for
themselves and decide whom to give their vote. I would react only if I saw a
radical option trying to destabilise the situation.
- There is another kind of voting – referendum. In the Balkans referenda
have nearly always preceded wars. How do you view the latest debate on
referendum in the RS?
- I would not
agree with you that referenda are followed by wars. Look at
Montenegro
.
There the referendum served to complete one process. But, you cannot compare
that with BiH.
Here there is no constitutional basis for organising a referendum like the
one that is mentioned in the RS.
Dodik’s Statements
Those who talk about referendum in the RS are cynical. First a war was
conducted, people were expelled from one part of the territory, ethnic cleansing
took place, and now they say that they can organise a referendum. That would be
wrong in many ways. That would show that some decisions can be made and forced
through war.
In short, I will not allow a referendum that is mentioned in some circles in
BiH.
□ Some politicians criticise you for being tolerant and too mild with RS
Prime Minister Dodik and his statements. What is your response to that?
- Did Prime Minister repeat his story about referendum? No. It is one thing
when politicians talk about one thing or another – “what would happen if”, and
another when statements come from people in power. When people in power say
things that are not acceptable, then I react.
There are people who would want me to be loud, to shout. I am not like that,
I do not make noise. I am a man who wants results and I am trying to achieve
them.
Question of Constitutional Changes in BiH
- The basis for a discussion on constitutional changes, which should start
right after the elections, is the agreement of six political parties, which,
because of two missing votes, was not adopted in the Parliament.
So, we could start with that proposal. But we will first see what the
Parliament will look like after the elections.
If that is not possible, then the talks should be reopened from the start and
deal with everything.
Results of Work
□What are the results of your work in these first six months that you
have been in BiH?
- The forthcoming elections are very important and people begin to
understand that the decision before them is very important. Further, people see
that the international community here is not a protector. They realize that we
will intervene only if something serious is happening, if security is at risk or
in a similar
situation.
Therefore, people in BiH are for the first time in a situation where they are
owners of their own destiny. In this process of realizing and learning they make
mistakes, but that is normal.
□ So, you are here only keeping the peace?
- No. I work a lot on convincing people ... It is more interesting for media
when decisions are made, laws imposed, individuals removed. But, I am trying to
convince people that they need to do their part of the work, I explain why we
behave the way we behave, I point out the obligations of those who are in
position to decide about something. BiH is now being taught democracy and it is
doing well.
□ Let us go back to BiH's future. What is your position with
regard to the idea of Prime Minister Sanader about organizing an international
conference on BiH? Media report that you support that.
- I have seen this, and the information that the idea has the support of the
German Government. That is not true! I have met Prime Minister Sanader three or
four times so far and we never talked about that, nor has he ever mentioned it.
I do not
think that an international conference on BiH is necessary at all. The problems
that this country has can be solved between its politicians or with the
assistance of the international community. Of course, in these situations, good
communications with neighbours are required. An international conference is the
last thing we need, and at this time, I do not see its point.
Telecom Privatization
- I play no role in the activities on privatizing telecoms in this country. I
do not favor the «Deutsche Telekom» or any other company in this process. I am
concerned only that the whole process is conducted in accordance with the
interests of BiH citizens and law.
Stabilization and Association Agreement by the end of the
year
- I am optimistic that the Stabilization and Association Agreement
(
SAA ) can be concluded by the end of this
year or first months of the next year. I wish to clarify some dilemmas arising
from the discussions about police reform, which is of extreme importance for
this process.
According to the agreement on police reform from October last year, police
experts needed time and opportunity to agree solutions. When they finish their
work, then politicians will make the final decision. Therefore, we, in the
international community, insist that the Police Reform Directorate should
continue its work and achieve results. And then, their agreement will be placed
before politicians who will say what they think about it.
I understand that some things are more complex because of elections.
Therefore, I believe they will be resolved with a «cooler head» after elections.
This, of course means, that the police reform agreement will be postponed, and
the
SAA will not be concluded in October or
November, but at the end of this or beginning of the next year. It is important
that the principles of police reform are not violated, and if we are late a
month or two it is not a catastrophe.
|
