OHR Brcko Press Release One Year of the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina Brcko, 08 March 2001

Brcko District celebrates its first anniversary today. Exactly one year ago the District was established by Statute as a single administrative unit beyond the control of the Entities and under the exclusive sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the first year of its existence the District has accomplished much to be proud of: a single, multi-ethnic government successfully consolidated from three municipal governments and 85 separate, mono-ethnic governmental agencies, a responsible, fully functioning, multi-ethnic Assembly; which has already adopted over twenty progressive laws; a newly established judiciary which should be fully functioning by April this year; a unified, independent, multi-ethnic police force total District de-militarization; a record 5000 minority returns in one year with 40 percent of District double occupancy cases resolved by a single, more efficient, multi-ethnic housing authority merged from six previous organizations; establishment of constructive District relations with Entity and regional governments on a variety of issues, including questions of shared expenses and revenues and economic development. One year after its establishment, the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a reality. Its institutions are functioning and the processes of recovery and integration are proceeding. These accomplishments are even more dramatic when compared to the progress of the Entities and the State on similar issues. As the High Representative noted the principle reason for the District’s success has been the determination of the District Government and Assembly and above all the citizens of Brcko of all ethnic groups to overcome divisions of the past and move to a common future. OHR Brcko Press Release, Brcko, 08 March 2001