Continue with reforms and secure future for BiH

Municipal elections 2004 have gone very well. For this we must congratulate the BiH Election Commission, all the Municipal Election Commissions and those others involved in preparing and conducting the elections.

The fact that these successful elections were organised, funded and conducted in entirely peaceful basis by the BiH authorities is a testament to the maturity of those Institutions responsible.

What awaits the victors is a tough job. For the first time all municipal mayors have been directly elected across BiH. This direct mandate carry’s with it a direct responsibility. Municipalities have one characteristic that distinguishes them from other layers of government: they are closer to the people. Therefore, it is here that the politicians serving citizens rather then politicians serving politicians must start in BiH.

Reform of local self-government is underway, and there will be many challenges to overcome in the next four years. Local authorities will be expected by the citizens to deliver concrete results and real improvement in their lives.

What is important now is that politicians put the campaigning behind them, return to work and concentrate on the necessary reforms and their implementation in order to give this country a future in Europe and NATO.