The International Community supports the Prud process as a home-grown initiative creating a forum for a political dialogue to resolve important political issues facing Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the March meeting of the Peace Implementation Council the political leaders made a commitment to broaden the process and fully engage in resolving the outstanding objectives set by the PIC for OHR closure.
In order to facilitate and give new momentum to the Prud process the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, facilitated and invited the Prud Troika to meet today in Sarajevo. His invitation came only after certain preconditions have been met. Most importantly the Conclusions of the Republika Srpska of 14th of May have been taken out of force and the debate on the Conclusions has been withdrawn from the current session of the RSNA. Following reaffirmation of the commitment to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and President of Serbia Boris Tadić on 22 June 2009, the High Representative invited all three party leaders, Dragan Čović of the HDZ, Milorad Dodik of the SNSD and Chairman Sulejman Tihić of the SDA to attend.
The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko regrets that Mr. Tihic did not attend, but fully respects his decision. There is no alternative to dialogue, even under the most difficult of circumstances. Inzko also agreed, that the dignity of all participants has to be preserved, expressing his conviction that Mr Tihić is considering constructive steps for the way ahead. HR/EUSR added: “As the Prud process is now in a delicate phase, new avenues have to be explored, how to continue the dialogue amongst the three constitutive peoples. It is clear that the basis has to be broadened and new points of departure have to be explored, which was certainly one of the issues discussed at today’s meeting,” Inzko said.
HR/EUSR warned that, despite the ongoing debates on political issues, economic issues must not be forgotten, especially in time of worldwide financial and economic crisis. Acknowledging the importance of this problem, participants also considered and discussed the issue.
HR/EUSR Valentin Inzko said that politicians in BiH must start working in a way that will bring concrete progress to this country and bring Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to European Union.