OHR Press Releases

Among the items on the agenda of tomorrow’s session of the BiH House of Representatives – the last session before the summer recess – are proposals to introduce a new two-tier VAT rate and to reduce the repayment period for holders of frozen foreign currency accounts.

A democracy that is protected and consolidated through executive powers granted to an extraneous institution cannot develop the necessary inner strength to sustain itself, the High Representative and European Union Special Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling stressed today, in a column published in BiH newspapers.

The BiH Council of Ministers today issued a legal opinion stating that the proposed amendments to the Law on Settlement of Frozen Foreign Currency Accounts - which would reduce the payment period to five years - would place an intolerable burden on BiH's public finances and jeopardize the administration of orderly payments to those whose accounts w [...]

Today, the Acting High Representative, Larry Butler, discussed recent statements regarding the possibility of a referendum on secession from BiH. Following his meeting with Steering Board Ambassadors, the Acting High Representative recalled the position taken by the Political Directors on 23 June.

The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, today lifted bans on holding party office against all individuals removed by earlier High Representatives. The only exceptions are those individuals who were removed for reasons connected to non-cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

The High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling is concerned by the BiH Presidency’s failure to meet its legally required deadline for approving the proposed decision on the size, structure and stationing of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH).

The High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling yesterday lifted bans on holding public office against seven individuals who had been removed by earlier High Representatives for obstructing peace implementation.

The High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling urged the BiH Presidency to approve the proposed decision on the size, structure, and stationing of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) by the legally required deadline.

Christian Schwarz-Schilling today made his first visit as High Representative and EU Special Representative to the Srebrenica Potocari Memorial, to pay his respects to the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica Massacre.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, addressed the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the European Council in Brussels today together with General Vicenzo Coppola, the head of the EU Police Mission.