The High Representative, Valentin Inzko, announced today that he is discontinuing the process of vetting with immediate effect. “I have taken this decision following consultations with the PIC Steering Board Ambassadors and in line with the concept of increasing local ownership of the democratic process,” he said.
The vetting process run by the International Community was introduced to provide for an appropriate standard of democratic leadership for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This standard has not changed, but now it will be up to the parties represented in Entity and Canton legislatures to ensure that future government officials have no record of obstructing the Dayton Peace Agreement, that they are not indicted for war crimes, and that they do not have a serious criminal record.
“The International Community wants to see domestic leaders take greater responsibility for the way in which the country is governed and led,” the HR explained. The decision comes on the day that the official results of the election are announced to ensure that parties are aware of this expectation and so that the public can keep this in mind as nominations to high office are being made.
The vetting process run by the International Community began in 2000. In 2005 BiH Parliament introduced its own mechanism designed to scrutinise BiH state level Ministerial candidates making use of law enforcement agencies in BiH. “I expect the authorities at Entity and Canton level to introduce their own vetting mechanism, similar to the one in place already at State level,” the High Representative added.
This High Representative’s decision concerns only the procedure of pre-emptive vetting of candidates for ministerial posts. The High Representative retains as in the past the full authority to remove officials in line with his authorities under the Dayton Peace Agreement, including officials linked to corruption, war crimes, or other activities threatening the implementation of the peace agreement.