OHR related Articles

The elections, now just a little over a week away, are an important part of living in a democracy. However, some polls suggest that the turnout in these elections is likely to be low. This is understandable - a lot of people are absolutely fed up with politics and politicians - but that doesn’t make it right. People in this country want reform, and [...]

That was the answer I gave when someone recently asked me what my one piece of advice was on leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite the country’s self-evident weaknesses, I believe Bosnia and Herzegovina has every chance of becoming a viable European state. But only if it joins NATO and the European Union.

Today the RSNA will debate the Law on Public Enterprises and the Law on Investment of Public Monies.
“Public” is the operative word in these two laws. They are about protecting the public’s interest, protecting the public’s money – that means protecting your interest; it means protecting your money.
There is nothing obscure about th [...]

This week the parliaments of the Federation will be faced with a very serious choice. One that no politician ever wants to deal with. They will have to decide between what is popular and what is right for the country. Many of them have said the deal is unconstitutional, it isn’t fair for everyone, there are better solutions, and so on.
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This Sunday marks the ninth anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre. The way in which we remember this terrible event – the way in which we challenge the moral outrage of those who committed it – and the moral failures of those (us) who had the power to stop it and didn’t -- carries a message far beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In June last year the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina came together at the National Museum in Sarajevo to sign the Protocol for Prosperity, a document that committed them to supporting the Second Phase of the Bulldozer Process.
Bulldozer Phase II has seen a steep learning curve for everyone – for politicians, for businesspeople a [...]

In the past year I have traveled across Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet with – and most importantly to listen to – mayors. I have done this because I believe that a fundamental change must be undertaken by the citizens of this country – a revolutionary change that will raise living standards and put politics in its proper place at the service of the [...]

Bosnia and Herzegovina hopes to mirror neighbouring Croatia's success in winning back tourists a decade after the end of the destructive Balkan conflict.
The country today launched a campaign to change its war-torn image and persuade tourists to sample its untouched mountain wilderness, multi-cultural heritage and thriving cafe culture. Spe [...]

I am not much of a person for looking back. But sometimes it’s worth a glance behind you in order to decide what still needs to be done ahead.
Anniversaries are a good time for such reflection. On the 27th of this month I will have been High Representative for two years.
When I think about my time here, I always come back to the same [...]

Everyone agrees that this country needs less bureaucracy and to find a way to reduce the layers of government, but a way also needs to be found to provide the citizens of this country with a greater voice in government. It is clear that one can have too much of the first, while not having enough of the second.