As a part of his visits to European Union capitals, the High Representative and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák met in Bratislava with the Slovak Foreign Minister Ján Kubiš. HR/EUSR informed him on the latest developments in the country, and BiH’s progress in meeting the five objectives and two conditions for OHR transition. Lajčák discussed with Minister Kubiš the future role of the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluding that the EU must be ready to take the lead role in BiH after OHR’s transition.
Informing the Minister on the latest political developments HR/EUSR Lajčák said: “The conclusion by the RS government to proceed towards unilateral withdrawal from the Energy transmission corporation would be damaging the country and its European goals. I expect the RS Government to revoke its conclusion and continue to work within the established institutions and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The RS government must understand that when they make an agreement they must honour it. Unilateral acts are destabilising and go against European spirit of cooperation and compromise. While it is clear that in the pre-election period the political parties are trying to appear extreme, after the election they will have to cooperate with their political opponents in order to make the country and all if its parts function. After so many years of hardship all the citizens deserve a more progressive approach from their leadership.”
Lajčák also emphasized that he expects all candidates and parties to abide by election rules and avoid any inflammatory rhetoric, recalling that the Peace Implementation Council has made OHR’s transition conditional upon a positive assessment of the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.