High Representative discusses outburst of violence in RS with FRY Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic

The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, today discussed the recent outbursts of violence in the RS, SFRY succession issues and next week’s BiH Presidency visit to Belgrade with Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic during a visit to the Yugoslav capital.

The High Representative and Mr Svilanovic held out hopes for the successful completion of a decisive round of talks in Vienna to settle succession issues for the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The High Representative also raised his serious concern over the recent violence at ceremonies to mark the rebuilding of mosques — destroyed in the 1992-1995 war — in Trebinje and Banja Luka. He told Mr Svilanovic that he expected a robust and swift response from the RS government against those behind the violence. The High Representative also discussed the BiH Presidency’s official visit to FRY next week, which will help to further improve relations between BiH and FRY.

The High Representative welcomed news from the FRY Foreign Minister that the FRY Parliament is set to ratify the Dayton Peace Accords but reiterated that Accords but reiterated that the Dayton Accords have been final and binding since they were signed in 1995. The High Representative delivered a speech at a conference in Belgrade held to discuss regional security in the 21st century and is set to meet other senior FRY officials in the course of the day.