| Date: January 8th 2004 Transcript: BORAM |
| Intro: Good evening! Guest in our first Korak edition in this year is the High Representative in BiH, Mr. Paddy Ashdown. Good evening and welcome! As in previous programs, our public can participate in this program with questions through e-mail and phone. Our tele-voting question tonight is: Can we, alone, without help from international community, implement important reforms? |
| Rondic: Mr. Ashdown, if morning can show what day is bringing, judging by first week in January we will have very tumultuous year, in political sense and probable in some other segments. This is opportunity to remind ourselves of basic principles of actions in coming period in BiH, by local authorities and international community. H.R: I think the next two months, next ten weeks or so will be crucial for BiH. We have very tough job ahead of us. Not tougher than year that we already passed through. I want to remind you Adnan, when we spoke on activities in BiH more than a year ago I said that in 2003 we will open the door to Europe, that we will convince RS to put military under State control, that we will establish a unified system of taxation in State and those things were considered as impossible and many international representatives very considering this as impossible. But all of this happened and it happened because of courage and of many of BiH politicians and that was exceptional, we surprised international community. We also have done other things that attracted a lot of attention; we gave a future to this country or a chance for future. In 2003 we pushed and opened the door for Europe and NATO. My message is that this is mountains peak, we are at the first one, but there is a new one, and it would be catastrophe, I repeat, catastrophe if we loose in 2004 what we achieve in 2003. Only imagine if we enter into program Partnership for Peace (PfP) in June, what is possibility, than there will never be a war in this country. Nothing can better ensure security and safety of our citizens and our children if we succeed in this, but if we don’t than we lost a chance. Only imagine when we made another step towards Europe in July, on this difficult road, that investors will come here, we will have future. But, if we don’t succeed and if this door are closed to us, than our great future that is opened for each citizen of BiH, better jobs, non-visa regime, everything will be lost. And than the hope that was growing in 2003 will became despair in 2004. Can we do this? Yes, I think that we can. It is tough ahead of us, but things that we already have done were tough. Will we do it is question that you should not ask me, you should ask politicians in BiH, because they have to do it. We won’t enter into Europe and NATO if we don’t do it. Europe and NATO were very clear on what needs to be done. I say next ten weeks, because in next ten weeks we will know will we succeed or not. Everything comes to four things. Can we reach solution for Mostar? We cannot allow ourselves to not reach it, in July in Mostar the Old bridge will be opened, imagine this big happening, when BIH is exposed to the eyes of the whole world, and this even have more significance than opening of memorial centre in Srebrenica, and international officials does not appear because the bridge is symbol of how things can be reconstructed, symbol of BiH and symbol of how city can be unified. Second thing, we have to do a lot in field of security. We have to adopt laws on SIPA so that we could establish agency at state level for protection of individuals. Also we need a security and intelligence agency what Dayton foreseen. We also need to appoint Defence Minister, minister’s deputies ministers, and high officials in military, so that we could create a state structure. If we don’t do that, we will loose in June. At the end we also have to establish unified for whole country High Judicial and Prosecutors Council so that we could give to this county what Council of Europe requires, and that is one system for whole country in security and judiciary independence from political influence. We will know in coming weeks will we succeed in this or not. These are priority tasks. If we succeed than we are on the way to open more widely that door and if we don’t succeed in the next ten weeks, that we are again on the read to go back to black hole of Balkan, on margin whole others are on the read to Europe. Therefore we have now one turning point here, if we go on the right track we have a future, if we don’t do that because people here cannot leave the past enough to build the future, than future for this country does not exist. Rondic: End of old and beginning of a new year is always opportunity to do certain analyses, summaries, etc. Until now, in programs when you was our guest we use to ask local politicians what they think about your work, but this time we decided to avoid that. First story tonight comes from the office of International Crisis Group (ICG) in BIH. On your work in 2003 and what you might do in 2004 speaks Chief of ICG BiH, Mr. Senad Slatina. |
| Senad Slatina, Chief of ICG BiH: There is no doubt that Paddy Ashdown brought new enthusiasm and energy into BIH political life. In his speeches he demonstrate optimism and faith in this country and these people, what we in BiH, because lot of negative experiences from war and after-was years, maybe have lost. And really, in priorities that he set for 2003 there was a certain progress, what gone further than what was believed that three sides in BiH could accept. Nevertheless, my essential remark on creating reforms and different projects by OHR is on lack of flowing up on implementation of those solutions. We got paper reforms, paper solutions. We create forum that suppose to produce contents, but there is no contents. And on this Paddy Ashdown and people from OHR always respond that that is up to local authorities. But, not everything is up to local authorities, some things should be foreseen, such as obstruction that will come from some sides in BiH. So, we have flagrant violation of Constitution that international community tolerates. No one look too much at that. In situation where you violate Constitutions and feel comfortable in that, than off course you can violate every other law. Culture of violating laws is developing here, culture of not believing in strength importance of laws. We can come in situation where we have fantastic laws and that no one cares for those laws. If the High representative have no intentions to imposes laws, removes people, etc. than he have to find another way to ensure implementation of things that have been agreed, how to introduce culture of respecting of laws. Otherwise, all reforms will fall through and all initiatives will come to nothing and all those that start those initiatives will look ridiculous. |
| Rondic: We heard Mr. Slatina. H.R: Yes, Senad Slatina always gives well balanced and fair critics, and let me say that I think that there is contents when implementation of reforms is in question, and regarding what he mentioned I would say three things in respond. Firstly, I would like that we started some of those reforms earlier, than we could do it more slowly and ensure implementation. Unfortunately, in past 18 months ago we started with some of those reforms, we had to act quickly, and if we didn’t work so quickly we would loose opportunity to enter into the Europe. So, we are prisoners of failures to start those key reforms earlier and there is question of implementation, he has right on this. Secondly, implementation is not my job, Senad has to understand this. If I have to implement reforms, than this would be protectorate. My job is to help in building of institutions of modern state, free and independent judiciary, free and independent media, independent central bank and also unified system of taxation in whole country, but how to implement what is written in laws is issue for BiH authorities. I think that for me is more legitimate to use my authorities in the name of all BiH citizens to build institutions of modern state, and it is less legitimate for me to interfere in making decisions in those institutions. So, I remove immunity form politicians and if they violates the laws, that will be job for courts, not for the High representative. Also, we established election system, that is not issue for the High Representative but for local authorities. Even if you don’t believe in that, what Europe ask for and that is why we do this, since I arrived I made 17 proclamations, my predecessor made 30. In past month I made only two proclamations. Europe said: the High Representative cannot implement, if you want to enter to the Europe, BiH politicians have to implement. Senad has right when he says that there is worry about implementation, I agree that I have certain responsibility for that, but I also think that this responsibility is now on BiH politicians and if they cannot implement they cannot go into Europe. If I have to do that for them, that we are endangering our chances for entering into Europe. I will give example: unfortunately, on 31st of December I had to intervene to save Mostar’s Aluminij, to save country’s reputation before foreign investors and to save network, that was unbelievable. That was BiH politicians’ responsibility. I will leave to your voters to decide, if BiH politicians cannot bring such simple decision, than you couldn’t have worse beginning of 2004, year in which BiH needs to show to the world, especially to Europe, that its politicians can take over responsibilities. And I had to intervene on this key issue. To repeat one more time, if I have to intervene, doors to Europe will be closed. When implementation of laws is in question, BIH politicians has to do that, I am ready to help, but they have to do it. Rondic: I your new year message to BiH citizens you mentioned problem of nationalism after long time. What was you thinking about concretely? H.R: I spend whole my life fighting against nationalism, destructive nationalism. My first memories, when I was four, from India when I was going to take train, I was going through station that was covered from one end to another with bodies of Muslims that were killed by Hindus. My experience from Northern Ireland, as of child from mixed marriage, I saw destructive forces of nationalism, I fought as soldier in many wars, and I don’t like nationalism, destructive nationalism. Patriotism is when you love your country and you don’t have to hate someone else. Nationalism is something that is based on hate, but it is not my job to make judgment on what etiquette is on some party. I serve to the citizens of BiH, if they chose this or that political party, my job is to cooperate with them, not to interfere in who will be elected. I don’t make judgments on people by what they say, but with what they do. These authorities that consist of some parties that are considered as nationalists’ done many things. Still, if they fail, I have to identify that. One thing concerns me a lot, it would be a tragedy for BiH to, when we set ourselves free from horrible curse of Big Serbia and Big Croatia, to be again prisoner of who wants to see BiH split in small parts. Great Alija Izetbegovic’s vision was whole BiH, free, that goes into Europe. If nationalism means attacking on that vision, I hope that it does not, than that is a real threat to stability of this State. Rondic: When we are talking about ethnicity, things with national prefix, we can’t avoid ongoing story on reforms of judiciary and prosecution in BiH, and story that is ongoing in past weeks between OHR and SDA President Mr. Sulejman Tihic. What is the essence of this problem? H.R: I very much regret that this is ongoing through media. You know, if we are not able to leave old communist ideas in this country, where politicians had impact on appointments in judiciary, than we cannot enter into Europe, we cannot create a modern state. Political pressure on process of appointments maybe wasn’t aimed result of this campaign, but it was a real harm to us. I have to make this clear, I will not move a centimetre or millimetre from position that politicians have no right to interfere in appointments in judiciary. Honestly, I didn’t want to answer through media, but this became so harmful. Firstly, numbers that they use are not up to date, and some of them are wrong. Take the judges or prosecutors, 49% of all judges and prosecutors in BiH are Bosniaks, so there is no any disparity here. Secondly, I really think that now is very important that High Judicial and Prosecutors Council that aren’t even in the middle of their work, I believe that they did a good job and I support it, and I suggest to let them to finish their work, I am completely convinced that at the end of this process we will have judiciary and prosecutor’s offices in this country founded on qualifications, merits, on material with which they start to work, and which completely satisfy national structure in this country. Do I want to discourage Bosniaks, judger and prosecutor, in applying for positions in RS? No! We should let High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils to continue their work and than see where they will come at the end. I am fully convinced that result will completely reflect national structure in BiH. One thing is clear, if we continue with this political campaign in media, to which international community opposed jointly, that we would see that BiH is not ready accept basic principles, to establish judiciary and prosecutor’s offices independent from political influence. So, we should cool off those things and let them to finish their work, because they done only half of the job, and than see what will happen at the end. Rondic: It seems to me that basic SDA remark is on non-equal representation of Bosniaks on high positions in judiciary, prosecutor’s offices and in police. What it especially interesting to me, and you also mentioned this, is unsatisfactory number of Bosniaks that would take certain position of judges and prosecutors in RS. My question could be, how much of impact had international community with its indolent relation towards discouraging of those people, and we are talking on highly educated people, which left their homes or which were expelled more than ten years ago, and which obviously manage to ensure for themselves a new life, in FBIH or somewhere in the world. H.R: Let me say this, that is not issue for the international community, that is issue for High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils, and as I just said that Mr. Tihic or anyone else should not interfere with this, and also I shouldn’t. All I can tell you is that in appointments in High judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils and in appointments in RS one of the problems is that not enough of Bosniaks applied. I think that there is one problem, I don’t think that this is only problem with Bosniaks in RS, I think that this is problem of all minorities in all areas. So, can we do something to encourage this process? SDA could help by asking its partners from RS, SDS, to encourage Bosniaks in RS. Or we could ensure mechanisms for financial help so that this could also be in use in areas where Serbs are minority, so that we do something positive here. We have to think how to encourage that all minorities are applying in higher numbers. Rondic: Whenever you are our guest, we are speaking about Mostar. Last time you came directly from Mostar to our studio, and now you almost directly go to Mostar from our studio. From certain diplomatic circles we can find out that you could bring important messages to Mostar, that tomorrow (Friday) in Mostar you could announce certain measures that would go in favour of future better functioning of unified administration in this city. Am I well informed? H.R: You are very good informed! Let me be clear, I said that I would think about Mr. Winterstain report on Mostar. We cannot let ourselves to have failure here, Adnan. If we don’t success, Mostar will become a black hole in BiH. We have to succeed and do this. Now I came to some conclusions, and I will tell you this: firstly, Winterstain’s report gives a good base for reasonable solution for Mostar; secondly, every reasonable solution for Mostar cannot be based on trust because there is no trust between Bosniaks and Croats. I am sorry, but I understand why this is a case and why there is a fear. Thirdly, we have to ensure not trust but guarantees, what means, according to my opinion, that there has to be a unified administration for Mostar, we cannot repeat situation where we have administrative units at lower level such as municipalities, because they simply become parallel institutions and we would not unify but divide the town. In every solution for Mostar we have to ensure absolute 100% guarantees that none of constitutive peoples will dominate over other two. That is demand on which BIH is build and demand on which future of Mostar should be worked out. Croats say that this is maybe not fair, but it seems to me that it would be strange if HDZ say that principles of which Croats in BiH benefit should be deny to others in Mostar. Tomorrow in Mostar I will not announce solutions, I want to listen and I will start a wide process of consultations with my colleague, Ambassador Vent, but you have right, there are certain measures that I will announce tomorrow in Mostar. Forgive me, I will not announce them here tonight, in Korak, but they are created to ensure that in temporary period, before new administration is established in whatever way, that resources and property in Mostar will not be abused to create bad management and bad authorities and that citizens interests and their property will be protected in this process. Tomorrow, I will announce some preparatory, temporary measures in Mostar. Rondic: Probable Mostar citizens expects now your arrival to Mostar with relief, but maybe you will now worry Mostar’s politicians and give them one sleepless night while expecting announcing of those measures. H.R: I can say that my basic interest in these measures is to protect Mostar’s citizens interests, to ensure that their future cannot undermined in temporary period and that qualities of Mostar cannot be used the way that would be opposite to good governance in town. Rondic: One association whose opinion is important to bigger part of BiH public are Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa. Their reactions are often emotive, with dose of irony, what is fully justified. Lets listen which questions they have for you: |
| Kada Hotic, Association Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa: We would ask Mr. Paddy Ashdown why that selection was like that? They had to give explanation if in RS only Serbs and small number of Croats are elected, how he thinks that return process can be sustainable there? How return is possible if we don’t have our representatives in judiciary? Until yesterday those people were murderers, those from RS. We are not even sure that those judges have clean hands, because we don’t know completely who they elected, but we know that a large number those from RS are war criminals. Sabra Kolenovic, Association Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa: I would great our Paddy, we knows each other well, he comes often here in Association, we exchanges opinions. There are a great successes that we achieve together, what is most important to us – memorial centre in Potocari. I would ask him does he know definition of war in BIH? If he does not know, I do, I will tell him: it was aggression on BIH. Zumra Sahomerovic, Association Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa: Why judges from RS, appointed by the High representative, did not indicted any war criminals from RS from 1992 to 1995? I would push on war criminals from Srebrenica in 1995. Munira Subasic, Association Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa: First question, when there will be justice in this region, for us, Mothers of Srebrenica, if we know that for 8,5 years we didn’t get answer on our question about crime that happened? I would ask the High Representative did he ask judges where were they between 1992-1995, if I know that from my town, from which I am expelled, that prosecutor there is still woman that in period between 1992-1995 was deciding who will be murdered and who will live? Sabaheta Fejzic, Association Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa: Is it true that BiH Defence Minister will be Serb? I would propose to Mr. Paddy to appoint Ratko Mladic, because he is the biggest strategist in this area and that he finishes with Muslims what he started earlier. |
| Rondic: Difficult questions! H.R: Yes! Let me say that I meet women from Srebrenica often, and one of the things that we managed to do is this memorial centre, and really I was very satisfied because we finished that. I think that I couldn’t bear sufferings like they do, and they have full right to speak emotionally about all these things. Let me to directly answer to some of those questions. Will Serb be appointed to position of Defence Minister? I don’t choose Defence Minister, that is Government that has to bring this decision, and that is coalition – SDA; HDZ; SDS, they will bring this decision and international community will not interfere. So, what we have to say here that this decision has to be brought at the beginning of February so that we could join the program Partnership for Peace, NATO program. Government will decide who will be appointed, and you can be sure that if it happen that person who is selected conducted war crimes, international community will do everything to ensure that such person don’t get onto that position. So, here I can say that Serb will be Defence Minister only if that is agreed between SDA and its coalition partners. On judges, we can return to that, even though we spoke on this previously, I think that Bosniaks are represented among judges and prosecutors, I said that 49% of them are Bosniaks, and off course, we would like that there is higher number of them in RS, we spike on this earlier. And regarding prosecutors, I can say that we during the war we somehow appointed judges and prosecutors based on their ethnicity, and that way it happened that all prosecutors in RS are of Serb nationality. The only way to correct this is through High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils, they are on the way of correcting those things, and we should let them to finish their job. Main prosecutor in Doboj is Bosniak. Can you imagine that something like this would be possible without High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils that brought such decision? I am not the one that appoints persons to these positions, I am not the one that brings these decisions, but this Council that consist of BiH citizens I know that they are very careful about their decision and that they are making progress. Still, before I judge on their work, we have to let them to finish their work. Rondic: Through all of these questions came one, many times repeated, question of war criminals. Can BiH join the PfP if Karadzic and Mladic aren’t’ there where they belong, in Sheveningen? H.R: NATO sets these standards and not me, and NATO said that BiH cannot became member of PfP if it does not show a clear and explicit cooperation in arresting of war criminals. To be more specific, RS and its authorities until now did not fulfil its international obligations to ensure this cooperation. If this does not change, BIH will not be able to enter into PfP. It is not enough only to say that they are standing aside, there were even some obstructions, and their task is constantly and actively cooperate in this process. We will evaluate how much they accomplish of this, and first evaluation will be their cooperation in Commission on Srebrenica. If they show any elements of obstruction, it is not only that I will react, but we will also have situation that BiH will not enter into PfP. So, there is no bigger priority to me than this program. The biggest priority is to bring Karadzic and Mladic before justice. We will turn every stone to accomplish this, and this can be done only if BiH authorities do they role in this process. In past year I extend this attack on Karadzic because he is not the only one in our focus and all those that that are helping him in hiding, those that are helping war criminals in any way, their life I becoming more and more difficult, and that will not stay like that, it will be worse. Rondic: It is time to hear questions that came from our public. Here is one interesting question, one of our spectators ask can reform in judiciary be adequately implemented with so catastrophic low salaries? H.R: You know that when I arrived here we quite increase salaries for judges and prosecutors. Still, when we are talking about administration in judiciary, salaries there are quite low. I think that this is related to judges, prosecutors, teachers, doctors, pensions are also low. So, we have to increase them and the only way to do this is with functional economy that would allow that. Otherwise, this country will face bankruptcy. Let me say that second way is to politicians serve as an example, to show on themselves how things should be done. I think that it is scandalous that politicians in BiH ensured for themselves not only salaries increase but pensions as well. Their pensions are paid from same budget as teachers’ pensions, doctors’, and they decided to ensure pensions for themselves after 20 years of work that will be ten times bigger than average pension in BiH. I can understand that people do some mistakes, but they can say that those are mistakes. Some politicians, for example, Mr. Dzaferovic made one brave move, he decided to not participate in this, but those politicians that ensured big increase in their salaries and pensions now, from the funds that are also in use for judiciary, education and health institutions, that is move that represents awful example. If you are politician in this country, you are paid very well you should get worried. My task is not to stop this, in macro-economic sense this is not so important, but in terms of politicians relations towards public this is a big issue. I would ask citizens of this country to say clearly and publicly what they think about this. I would not like to interfere, but I wanted to say this. Rondic: Many of our spectators ask to whom High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils respond for their work? H.R: Councils are responsible the same way as judges are or such institutions in Britain or France, or any other institution. So, they are responsible to the High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils. When I arrived to BiH, I said which independence we have to defend and that is independence of media, independence of judiciary system and independence of central bank. If those institutions aren’t independent, we cannot go to Europe. Tony Blair would never think to interfere in police work, or appointments of judges and prosecutors. Parliament is institution that creates the laws but does not interfere in how those laws are implemented, meaning that they have to be implemented through independent bodies. Rondic: To be precise, High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils are independent in their work and they not respond to anyone for their decisions? H.R: Correct! If people find that extraordinary they should think that this is the way how things functions in every modern democracy. Parliament determine the laws, it says these are the laws that are adopted. I know that this is difficult for people to understand but in essence of modern democracy is that you have difference between parliament that adopts the laws and independent judiciary and police that enforce those laws. If you think that this is difficult to accept, I can tell you that alternative is that politicians control work of judges, what we had so far and that’s why we had corruption too. Maybe this is not the best system but there is no better and only alternative is worse, which is to have politicians that will appoints the judges and you all know where that leads, because that was practice in this country for a long time. Rondic: Highest number of questions from our spectators is about work of High Judicial and Prosecutor’s Councils, I think that we gave answers to most of them in this program. Still, one group of our spectators, returnees that watch us tonight in Bosanski Brod, they ask how to stay in their homes when they are asked again to pay for new different fees for connecting to electricity system, phone, heating, important things; even they already paid for those things until 1992; pensions are small, so how can you, as the High Representative, can exert influence so that they could be liberated from paying of those fees again? H.R: There is only way with which we could ensure funds from which those fees could be paid for them, and that is prosperous economy. I spend lot of my time with returnees, my wife and myself spent several nights with returnees and see at the scene how difficult their life is. We are trying to do for them what can be done, but I cannot pay those fees for them or the country can do that. If we would spend less money on administration, if we would spend less money on governing bodies, if we wouldn’t have politicians that ensure for themselves salaries and pensions, and don’t give it to the others, if we would be able to ensure successful economy in this country than we would have funds that are needed for paying of those fees. There is no any other way than to ensure economy reform and attract foreign investments. I think that is also important to bear in mind peoples interests on the first place while making decisions. Rondic: Many of our spectators ask how you see 2004, what will come, since you wasn’t a big optimist when you was talking about economy situation in 2003 and you was right? H.R: I was never worried about economy in 2003 because authorities had to bring some difficult decisions and I commend them for that. I spoke recently with Mr. Terzic on what he had done to keep the budget within borders, I really comment those efforts, but what has to worry BIH is that international assistance is more and more smaller because they are other problematic areas in the world, what means that we have to ensure funds by ourselves. That is through economy reform, through encouraging of small enterprises. Still, I have to look your spectators into eyes and say that situation won’t be better this year. Hungary needed seven years from the beginning of reforms to achieving of some economic success. What worries me here in BIH is that economy reforms began here and that will make life more difficult for some people, number of those employed in governing bodies will reduce and this process last for some time and I am worried will people have enough of patience. That worries me more than economy situation because time will be needed to see some success. Economy does grows, but too slow my taste, I would like that this is much faster, I cannot say that we will see success every week or every month, but I think that we can open new working places in future if this reform goes on now. Rondic: Sarajevo’s Mayors addressed you yesterday (Wednesday) demanding that you stop apartheid, as call it, to abolish what remains as war consequence, ethnical prefixes in names of towns, parts of the country, etc. Sarajevo people are very proud on their Mayors because all of them, no matter to which nationality they belong to, stayed in Sarajevo during the war, what do you think about this initiative? H.R: I met with them, I have really great respect for those people because I know that they knows the nest what is best for the city. I agree with them that there are traditional, ancient names for towns in this country, Foca was always Foca and not Foca Srbinje, Bosanski Brod was Bosnaski Brod, I understand that sometimes people look at me because I have many authorities but I am very careful in using them because it is not international community’s task to say what people in this country will give to their towns, they should decide on this. Country that denies its past cannot be considered as a country, because if you are denying how those towns were named previously, you deny existence of that country that existed before names were changed. Some people say that BiH here is under protectorate and that would be protectorate if I would go around BiH and say to the politicians what to do, or to say to its citizens how to name their towns. That is not my job, that is job for them, but I hope that they will manage to finish this job. Rondic: We have few more minutes, here is one interesting question. One our spectator from Denmark noticed that you use all the time word we– do you feel as Bosnian? H.R: I think that it would be arrogant if I would say that I feel like that. I share responsibility with my colleagues from governing bodies of BIH. I like this country a lot, but off course that I am not its citizen. Imagine if I say you have to do that, you have to act this or that way, I don’t think that would be the right way. When I say we, I believe that I have part of responsibility, I don’t consider myself as citizen of this country but as someone who is part of this network that is responsible and that has to give some answers to the citizens. Therefore I rather say that we have to do something than you have to do something. Rondic: Lets see now results of our tonight’s tele-voting. Question was: Can we, alone, without help from international community, implement important reforms? 365 of voters said that we can, but 624 believe that we cannot. So, our spectators believe that reforms cannot be implemented without you, without international community. H.R: I don’t know any country that showed so much generosity and welcoming to the international community, but I will say something that is quite difficult thing. International community cannot stay here forever and ahead of us moment when organizations that are present in BIH will hand over their responsibilities to the local authorities, and that moment is not so far. I think that I am the last High representative, I don’t know, maybe that is too much to say, but if it happens that I am the last High Representative, I would consider that as my success. There is more foreigners in Prague for example that in Sarajevo, but those are not exclusively people with authorities of the High Representative, those are tourists and all other. When we arrive to the BiH, we found it as person that is heavy wounded. Than we put him into the hospital, under devices for keeping him alive. After some time we gave him crutches so that he could walk. Now we set him on that road to Europe and you have to go on. If you tell me – High Representative, future is in your hands, I will tell you, not, that is past, and future is now in your hands. I want to believe that future won’t depend only on the High Representative, but on BiH citizens and its politicians. Rondic: I if happen that you are the last High Representative, but maybe they extend your mandate once again and than everyone would be satisfied. H.R: My wife says no! Rondic: Thank you for being with us tonight! |