OHR Press Releases

The OHR today called on delegates to the FBiH House of Peoples, at their session tomorrow, to adopt the Law on RT FBiH in a version that is fully harmonised with the BiH PBS System Law in the form proposed by the FBiH Government. If this is not done, the delegates will be responsible for blocking BiH’s road to Europe, the OHR warned.

The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, today issued a Decision addressing the legal status of individuals removed by previous High Representatives – with the exception of those removed for reasons connected to non-cooperation with the ICTY.

The process of European integration will succeed in a satisfactory way only if it is understood to be a process of mutual benefit – one that can enrich both Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the EU, the High Representative will argue at a conference on European identity to be held in Banja Luka this evening. He will say that this is one of the core [...]

The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, has appointed Kwai Hong Ip and David Schwendiman as International Prosecutors to the Special Department for War Crimes in the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative Christian Scwarz-Schilling is in Rome to attend the annual congress of the European Peoples' Party, where he is meeting senior party leaders and other prominent politicians from all over Europe. He will highlight the political and economic progress that BiH has achieved over the last couple of years [...]

The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, today welcomed the BiH House of Peoples' decision to amend the BiH Election Law, allowing voters to be registered automatically. The system, known as "Passive Voter Registration" should simplify the voting process, and encourage voters to the polls.

"I welcome the lifting of the 'Lautenberg Sanctions' on the Municipality of Foca. This is an indication of a change in the Municipality and confirms that the application of strict conditionality can have a positive effect. Moreover the lifting of this sanction shows that making progress has benefits; an important signal for those municipalities in [...]

“2006 is a crucial year for Bosnia and Herzegovina – the country has three key priorities: elections, completing the first phase of constitutional reform, and the SAA negotiations,” the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, said today.

The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed the Presidency’s Decision of 25 March to send draft constitutional amendments to the BiH Parliament.

It is the role of civil society to hold political parties accountable, therefore articulate non-governmental organizations are essential, the High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling said today. “In the past the International Community has played a major role, including interventions in the political process using the Bonn Powers. That era i [...]