03/25/2004 Sarajevo, CPIC

OHR’s Statement at the International Agency’s Joint Press Conference

PDHR Hays in Banja Luka

 

The Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, is in Gracanica today. This is part of a series of visits by Ambassador Hays to towns and municipalities throughout BiH focusing on the ways, in which municipalities have been able to improve service delivery to citizens, attract investment and raise living standards. During the trip, Ambassador Hays will visit successful companies in the Gracanica area and hold talks with businesspeople and municipal officials.

Ambassador Hays will visit Banja Luka on Friday, 26 March where he will meet young professionals engaged in various spheres of life. A group of more than 20 young people, who are involved in business, culture, sports and politics will join Ambassador Hays this time. The meeting represents a continuation of PDHR’s contacts with the young people of this region which he begun on March 16. The discussion will focus on the general climate in which young professionals start their careers, and specifically on pointless bureaucratic obstacles to doing business that still bedevil the BiH commercial environment. We shall issue a media advisory with all the necessary details today.

 

Press Conference Moves to UNITIC 

Finally, today, it is our final press conference at this facility. For more then six years, hundreds of BiH and international journalists reported on developments in BiH based on statements made here as BiH has moved away from Dayton and towards Brussels.

As a reflection of this we are changing the venue of our regular Tuesday and Thursday press conferences; from CPIC to UNITIC. Press Conferences will still be held twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11.30 – but now in the main conference room of a modern business center. The UNITIC facility is fully equipped and all the services offered her at CPIC will be provided at UNITIC. In addition UNITIC has a proper coffee bar.

We all see these regular press conferences as a means of interacting directly with you all and hope you will keep coming. Furthermore, if you have any comments or thoughts on the new venue, please let us know and we can see what further changes we can make at the new venue.

So see you all there on Tuesday at 11.30.