OHR Press Releases

02/06/2003

Responsible Government
In December 2001 I presented a concept of privatization of apartments to the District Assembly and Government. After due deliberation, the Assembly passed the apartment privatization law in July 2002. The law clearly states that the District Government must sell apartments to qualified buyers within three months of their application. Some 3,50 [...]
02/06/2003

High Representative Highlights Key Reform Role of Civil Service Agency
The BiH Civil Service Agency (CSA) will promote the development of a professional, independent, efficient, apolitical and merit-based civil service through the full implementation of the Civil Service Law, High Representative Paddy Ashdown said today. The High Representative was speaking at a ceremony held at the Joint Institutions Building in Sara [...]
02/03/2003

High Representative Says State-level Collection of Customs and VAT is Non-Negotiable
The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown said at a Press Conference today in Sarajevo that “if we don’t get agreement now, we will not be able to put in place the structures necessary to introduce VAT by January 2005 - this week is make-or-break week for customs and VAT”. The High Representative noted that this was the reason EU Commissioner Chris Pa [...]
01/29/2003

PIC Steering Board to Discuss OHR’s Mission Implementation Plan Today
The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be represented at the meeting by the Secretary General of the Standing Committee on Military Matters, Stepjan Potcernje, and the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo. The Steering Board will discuss the following five issues:...
01/28/2003

High Representative Addresses Council of Europe
Faster implementation of Council of Europe post-accession requirements will deliver tangible benefits to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said at the Council of Europe on Tuesday. “For all BiH’s progress, much remains to be done to achieve European standards in the areas monitored by the Council of Europ [...]
01/27/2003

SDHR Welcomes the Official Opening of the BiH State Court
Speaking today to the President and Judges of the BiH State Court, as well as representatives of State and Entity institutions and the International Community, the Senior Deputy High Representative and Head of the Rule of Law Pillar, Bernard Fassier, emphasised that “the people of BiH finally have a flagship judicial institution they can trust - an [...]
01/25/2003

EUPM to be able to recommend removals
The High Representative has agreed with the European Union Police Mission Commissioner Sven Fredrikson a mechanism to allow the EUPM to recommend the removal of police officers, officials, and their responsible superiors, found to be acting outside the Dayton Peace Agreement. The High Representative informed Presidents, Prime Ministers and Parliam [...]
01/24/2003

High Representative Enacts Crime Fighting Package
The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, yesterday put in place a package of measures to help BiH fight organised crime and corruption. The BiH Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code will mean that the State Court’s Serious Crimes division can start operating immediately. The Laws on Witness Protection and Judicial Police of BiH and amendments t [...]
01/14/2003

One seat to fill in the Brcko District Interim Assembly
In order to restore the Brcko District Interim Assembly to its full composition of 29 councilors, and to ensure that the diversity of people in the District is adequately represented, the Supervisor of Brcko Henry L. Clarke invites political parties to submit for consideration suitably qualified candidates who will serve the Brcko District and its [...]