High Representative Carlos Westendorp would like to reiterate that both the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on Citizenship, which went into effect on January 1 of this year, allow for dual citizenship.
Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are allowed to hold the citizenship of another state provided that a bilateral agreement is concluded with that state in accordance with the Constitution and the Law on Citizenship.
To date, no such agreements have been made. But the Law on Citizenship envisages a transitional period of five years – until January 1, 2003 – during which Bosnia and Herzegovina has to conclude such agreements with interested states, in particular with neighboring countries. The Presidency is firmly committed to concluding such bilateral agreements, and the High Representative encourages all negotiations to that effect.
During this five-year period, citizens who acquired another citizenship before the entry into force of the Law on Citizenship are allowed to keep it.
The High Representative, particularly in this pre-election period, condemns all attempts to misrepresent the issue and spread confusion and fear among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens who hold another citizenship. The Constitution is absolutely clear about the possibility of dual citizenship.