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The Senior Deputy High Representative, Ambassador Dr. Matei Hoffmann,
commends the BiH Parliament party leaders for the initiative they showed at
today's meeting at which the issue of political party financing in BiH was
discussed.
The OHR presented its thoughts on how state level legislation should be designed to regulate political party financing. The party heads and representatives unanimously supported OHR's proposals, which are now to be formally proposed in the BiH Parliament by MPs Ibrahim Djedovic and Nikola Spiric (see attachment). Transparency in funding is one of the most important underlying principles of democracy, and should be enshrined in law. Such transparency will ensure that all actors competing on the political scene in BiH do so on an equal footing and under full public scrutiny. The regulations to be proposed to the BiH Parliament should also help fight corruption by preventing both companies in which the state has a majority share, and private companies that carry out public works on behalf of the government from contributing to party finances. The use of wealth in order to gain political influence is also contrary to the essence of democracy, which demands that everyone have equal access to decision-makers. To prevent legal entities, such as companies, from gaining unfair influence, the proposed legislation should limit the amount of donations they can make. Citizens´ donations should also be limited and should have to be declared by the receiving party if they exceed a certain level. Draft legislation incorporating these suggestions is expected to be formally introduced to the BiH Parliament without delay, so that political parties can start preparing their campaigns for the general elections in November in accordance with principles that ensure transparency and compliance with democratic rules. The adoption of these principles will be an important step towards achieving European standards in BiH. Ambassador Hoffmann stated that today's initiative is likely to send an important and positive message in the run-up to the ministerial meeting of the Peace Implementation Council which will take place in Brussels on May 23/24.
In accordance with the discussion held on 18 May 2000 at the OHR in Sarajevo, and with regard to the necessity of adoption of the law on financing of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we, the authorized representatives of political parties, agree to support the working material related to the law on financing of political parties in BiH, and to support its sending for parliamentary discussion in the House of Representatives of BiH. Delegates of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of BiH, Ibrahim Dzedovic and Nikola Spiric, agreed to propose the draft law to the Parliament. Signing Parties:
SDA
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