OHR Press Releases

The outcome of police reform negotiations among the main BiH political parties, scheduled to begin this Sunday, will “open up the future of BiH – or close it down,” the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said today in a speech to the RS National Assembly.

The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has laid out the further steps that must now be taken in order to complete the work of the RS Government’s Srebrenica Commission, so that all those who participated in the Srebrenica Massacre are identified and brought to justice.

The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, today met with the Heads of Clubs of the political parties represented in the FBiH Parliament. Discussion focused on Police Reform in light of the crucial upcoming negotiations on police restructuring to be held between 24 and 27 April.

We condemn the incidents during the military induction ceremonies in the RS on April 16. These events have to be taken very seriously as they indicate a deeper problem within the RS. As BiH approaches crucial decisions on the country's Euro-Atlantic future, both at the NATO meeting in Vilnius on April 21 and with regard to the impending European Co [...]

The OHR welcomes the transfer of Vujadin Popovic to the Tribunal. Vujadin Popovic is the seventh indicted war criminal to be transferred to the ICTY this year by the Republika Srpska, and marks yet another important step in the process of bringing accused for grave war crimes before the court. Mr Popovic has been indicted for grave crimes, includin [...]

The High Representative has welcomed the news that the European Commission has approved a Feasibility Report assessing the readiness of Serbia and Montenegro a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and said that the news highlights the region's shift towards EU membership.

The HR met this morning with Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod of Bishops in Belgrade.

The HR today met with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Serbia and Montenegro’s Minister of Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in Belgrade.

Last week's Steering Board Political Directors Communique stressed the need to "move five Federation ministries from Sarajevo to Mostar". This is a long standing obligation of the Federation authorities. The Dayton Agreement on Implementing the Federation of BiH dated 10 November 1995 obliged the Federation of BiH to locate a number of Federation m [...]

The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, met with the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, in London today.