Speaking at a press conference in Mostar, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown summed up his impressions after a two-day visit to Central Bosnia and Herzegovina in ten points:
- First, that returnees need more than just security and their property back: they need a sustainable economic future — jobs and the tools to farm their land;
- Second, that there are many brave and honourable judges and prosecutors out there on the front-line, but they are let down by the system;
- Third, that it is a disgrace when politicians spend money on themselves but stop the salaries and benefits of the teachers bringing up our children;
- Fourth, that politics here has for too long been the preserve of the elites, and that we need to do more to give ordinary citizens a real voice;
- Fifth, that municipal and local government can be a force for good, putting citizens first and helping private enterprise create jobs;
- Sixth, that often it is things such as the high price of electricity and capital that hold industry here back, things that politicians can fix but haven’t;
- Seventh, that it is the job of the state to protect industry in this country from illegal competition and imports, and the state is failing to do this;
- Eighth, that we need schools that give our children the skills to work in the new private enterprises that represent the future of jobs in this country;
- Ninth, we need to worry less about constitutions, and more about how we can make this country a good place to bring up children again;
- And lastly, we need to spend less time talking to politicians, and more time talking to teachers, judges, businessmen and returnees.