Ambassador Miguel Arias, Deputy High Representative and head of the Regional Office of the OHR in Banja Luka, visited Bihac on 25 February for talks with Canton 1 Governor Mirsad Veladzic and local political leaders.
The High Representative Carlos Westendorp and the international community have been increasingly concerned with the slow progress in implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in Canton 1. Ambassador Arias made clear in his meetings that, although there has been progress in some areas since his visit in December, the overall record remains unsatisfactory.
Ambassador Arias stressed, in particular, the need for progress in:
- strengthening the prosecution of corruption and politically related violence
- improving the transparency of the democratic bodies
- increasing returns of refugees and displaced persons, and implementing the Federation property law
- enhancing the relationship with members of the International Community
- delivering economic progress for the people of Canton 1.
Ambassador Arias noted that the Cantonal Assembly at its next session intends to discuss the High Representative’s letter of November 13. The High Representative’s letter addressed inter alia security, judicial issues and the situation for the media. The OHR encourages discussion of these important issues.