01/12/2008 OHR / EUSR

Reaction To Banja Luka Meeting Disproportionate

The OHR and representatives of the international community have many meetings, on many topics where everyone is entitled to present their views.

It is therefore unclear why a the working level meeting held in Banja Luka on 10 January, and attended by officials of the OHR and OSCE, as well as representatives of the US, German, French, and UK embassies in BiH would be grounds for the reaction seen over the last two days in the Republika Srpska.

The OHR can therefore only view the reaction seen over the last two days as disproportionate.

International Community representatives were in Banja Luka to meet with media and non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives based in the Republika Srpska. At the meeting International Community representatives underscored that an independent, vibrant civil society and media are cornerstones of a healthy democracy. The OHR’s Principle Deputy High Representative, Raffi Gregorian, attended on behalf of the OHR.