12/01/2003 SB Ambassadors

International Community United Behind Work Of The Mostar Commission

The ambassadors who represent the countries of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina consider the Mostar Reform Commission under its chairman, Norbert Winterstein, to be the only body competent to solve outstanding issues regarding the City of Mostar. This was concluded by the Steering Board ambassadors during a meeting today in Sarajevo to discuss progress that has been made so far by the Mostar Reform Commission.

The Steering Board ambassadors urged the members of the Commission, in the interests of all the citizens of Mostar, to forge a consensus which will allow Mostar to become a unified City as a single unit of self-government. The Steering Board ambassadors at the same time expressed their firm stance that one constituent people must not be allowed to dominate the City of Mostar. The Steering Board ambassadors therefore recommended that the Commission develop an appropriate electoral system for the City of Mostar, and a voting process within the City Council, to ensure that decision-making in the city is representative, equitable and effective.