High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, met today in Sarajevo OSCE’s High Commissioner on National Minorities, Ambassador Knut Vollebaek.
HR/EUSR Inzko briefed High Commissioner Knut Vollebaek on current political affairs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including issues related to government formation process. “Political leaders in BiH must unblock the coalition building process and thus send the message that they put the intrests of citizens before party politics. Once elected, new governments need to immediately focus on Euro-Atlantic integration” HR/EUSR Inzko said.
The OSCE High Commissioner Vollebaek emphasized the essential role of education as part of a strategy to prevent conflicts through integration. The continued separation of students along ethnic lines in BiH is harmful to strengthening a peaceful and cohesive society”, High Commissioner Knut Vollebaek said.
“It is important to recognize that Education is a security issue”, Vollebaek concluded.
HR/EUSR Valentin Inzko expressed his readiness to support endeavors aimed to enhance the role of the national minorities’ councils and called upon authorities to start the implementation of the revised Annex VII Strategy in earnest.