OHR Press Releases

The Acting High Representative, Raffi Gregorian, today in Sarajevo briefed a delegation from the Parliament of the United Kingdom, led by Baroness Sayida Warsi and Lord Michael Ashcroft KCMG, on the current political situation in BiH.

The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina have shown resilience in the face of political leaders who have repeatedly failed them, and the international community must emulate that resilience and find a way of making the political system perform better, the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, said in a speech to diplomats i [...]

“Karaj Kamel bin Ali’s escape is an outrage that again shows the serious systemic flaws in the penal systems in BiH,” Acting High Representative Raffi Gregorian said today.

Today the High Representative, Valentin Inzko, issued a decision extending the period of temporary financing of the city of Mostar from 1 April to 30 September. The decision will allow Mostar City employees like civil servants, the fire brigade and other city employees, to receive their salaries and other benefits.

Acting High Representative Raffi Gregorian expressed his concern with last week’s Council of Ministers decision not to extend the mandates of the international judges and prosecutors working on terrorism, organised crime, and corruption cases in the BiH Court and the BiH Prosecutors office.

On this day, 14 years ago, three days after the fall of the Žepa UN Safe Area, the commander of the Bosnian Government forces, Colonel Avdo Palić, went to the UN Protection Forces compound in Zepa to negotiate the evacuation of the remaining inhabitants of the enclave. When he arrived at the compound, he was taken by Bosnian Serb forces and wa [...]

The High Representative/EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Ollie Rehn, agreed last night that lifting visa requirements for BiH passport holders would be very positive and the political leadership must ensure all conditions are fulfilled.

Meeting this afternoon with trade union representatives from Mostar the High Representative, Valentin Inzko, said that despite promises from the City Council the situation in the city has deteriorated further during the last two weeks.

In view of the ongoing strikes and public protests in Mostar, the Office of the High Representative reminds the political parties represented in the Mostar City Council – SDA, HDZ BiH, NSRzB, SDP, HDZ 1990, SBiH and HSP Đapić-Jurišić – that they are responsible for the current situation. They were elected by the citizens to serve th [...]

The High Representative, Valentin Inzko, has appointed Christopher Michael Bennett as the new Head of the OHR office in Banja Luka. Mr. Bennett will take up his duties on July 27, 2009. He replaces Ivan Bušniak, who has been Head of OHR Banja Luka since September 1, 2007.