BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: Bosnia's peace overseer gets full support from Peace Implementation Council

Bosnia's peace overseer says he has been given the support of the country's Peace Implementation Council, following criticism from Bosnian Serbs. Bosnia's peace overseer Miroslav Lajcak says he has the full support of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) for Bosnia, after a two-day meeting in the capital, Sarajevo. Lajcak has come under criticism from politician's in Bosnia's Serb Republic for what they have described as "dictatorial" and "unnecessary" meddling. In response to bickering between Bosnia's Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders that has stalled reforms over the past 18 months, peace envoy Miroslav Lajcak unveiled new measures earlier this month aimed at simplifying the functioning of the government. But some politicians, including Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, who favours strong regional powers and a weak central government, have condemned the plans and mobilised the Serb public against them. The Serbs fear the legislation chips away at their rights and could mean they are outvoted by the other half, the Muslim-Croat federation. Lajcak said at a news conference on Wednesday (October 31) that he had been given the backing of the Council, and he would not give in to the criticism he had received. "In regard to the measures I undertook on October 19, I want to stress that all delegations, with no exception, agreed that my measures are legitimate, within my mandate and in accordance with Dayton Peace agreement. Only one country has a different view regarding the political context of my measures, which is their right and I wouldn't make a sensation out of it," he said. "I haven't changed, of course, my position on this issue. The decisions are good for citizens of this country, in absolute compliance with Dayton and with the authority I have," Lacjak added. The PIC board of directors consists of representatives of the United States, Italy, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, Britain, Russia, the EU, and Turkey on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. "Members of Council have welcome the fact that leaders of the main political parties signed an agreement last weekend in Mostar on the start of police reform, which is a precondition for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move towards Europe. They all agree that it's a positive step but only if political leaders continue with concrete activities. Only then will it will be possible that Bosnia and Herzegovina moves closer to signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement," Lajcak said. Bosnia's two ethnic-based halves have had an uneasy, often hostile relationship since they were created as part of a power-sharing deal to stop the bloody 1992-95 war. "All political leaders or institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina that obstruct the work of the High Representative and Steering Council of the Peace Implementation Council will be sanctioned. The Steering Council underlines that the international community has all the necessary instruments to suppress negative tendencies and that it won't allow the undermining of the Dayton Peace Agreement inside the country or from abroad," he added. The Belgrade embassies of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States protested this week to Serbia about statements attacking Lajcak and linking Bosnia's future to that of Kosovo.

ITN Source | November 1, 2007

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