OHR related Interviews

Putting emphasis on the victimization of all three peoples in BiH ahead of the local elections is very dangerous and destructive for the whole country, says High Representative, Paddy Ashdown
“I hope that in this pre-election period we are going to think of the future, not of the past. However, I know that prior to earlier elections politici [...]

I'm very concerned because if we don't accelerate the current pace of reforms, I fear we won't succeed * I'm optimistic about the implementation of the decision on the administration of the City of Mostar * A dispute about electricity for «Aluminum» is an attempt to manipulate for political purposes.
The International Community’s High Repres [...]

“I know it’s difficult when a foreigner judges public opinion in a country he or she comes to, but what citizens think about an issue is important to me. My legitimacy is based on the Dayton Agreement but my powers are based, among other things, on the acceptance by citizens of the job I’m doing. I always ask my associates what citizens think abou [...]

Today at noon, in Mostar, High Representative Paddy Ashdown will announce the Decision on the future organisation of this city. We spoke to Lord Ashdown yesterday in his Sarajevo office, shortly before his departure for Mostar.

Ahead of us are the last 14 hours of negotiations with political parties and other representatives. I can’t say that we are looking at anything else but a “zero” chance to reach a consensus, although we will try to reach that consensus during these last negotiations. However, I am not optimistic. In any case, today is decision day for Mostar, and i [...]

The High Representative for BiH Paddy Ashdown, prior to the interview for Dnevni list, had no information about the results of discussion between councillors of the Mostar City Council at yesterday’s extraordinary session, which, as announced, was to address the City’s Draft Statute. “As far as I know, the City Council has done something, which has [...]

British politician and diplomat Paddy Ashdown took office as the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2002. Many Croats in this country expressed fears at that time that his appointment was not the best solution. There was talk that the former leader of the British Liberal Party would be particularly disinc [...]

Of course the process will be painful, but less painful than the situation we have now and because of which Mostar is the black hole of the Balkans. I will do my best for consensus to be reached, but if no consensus is reached on the Mostar solution, I will have to impose it, the High Representative said

Mostar is a black hole, the Bermuda Triangle of Bosnia-Herzegovina, it’s unresolved status damages not only the citizens of that city, but of the whole country, not only internally but also externally.
Look, I have already said this to Dragan Čović, Chairman of BiH Presidency: in mid-February you have a very important donor confere [...]

The Council hasn’t finished its work, it hasn’t even been through half its work. But if there is a campaign, then laws get undermined. I think we need to do the following: we need to leave space for the Council to finish its work. When the Council finishes its part of the work, I am certain that ethnic balance will be respected and that no one will [...]