High Representative and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák today met with senior French officials in Paris to inform them of BiH’s progress in meeting the five objectives and two conditions for OHR transition. “The country has made good progress in the last few months, but more efforts are needed on two key issues: the future status of Brčko and regulating state property”, Lajčák told the current EU Presidency, which has a key role in co-ordinating EU policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Speaking of the start of the municipal election campaign in BiH today, the High Representative and EU Special Representative stressed that he expects all politicians to conduct an issue-based campaign that focuses on the needs of local communities. He informed the French EU Presidency that it was evident from his meetings over the last few months that an overwhelming majority of BiH citizens wants their political leaders to refrain from negative political campaigns and address their real-life concerns, such as unemployment, social rights, corruption, crime and education reform, so as to lead their country rapidly into the European Union.
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.