OHR related Interviews

High Representative Paddy Ashdown is pretty much convinced that Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a member of Partnership for Peace at the Istanbul Summit this summer. But… “Nothing in this country is probable, but all issues related to defense reform have been fulfilled. However, if there is no root reform of the RS when it comes to meeting the [...]

It was not a meeting designed to reach agreement. It was, you might say, rather a tough exchange of views. I think if I were to sum it up I would do so like this: A number of very important reforms were made last year, some of which required a great deal of courage from Republika Srpska. Making these decisions last year, on Defence, on the ITA, the [...]

“Following the events that took place in Pale, I will have to take action against the RS authorities, because I have been thinking, for some time now, what steps to take, so that the whole of BiH does not have to suffer and risk its chance to join the Partnership for Peace,” announced the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown.

Although local estimates of the depth of BiH’s economic decline are represented in small figures, Donald Hays, Principle Deputy High Representative, announced after the most recent meeting he had with the representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce that the internal debt of BiH amounts to KM 20 billion. During an interview with "Novi Report [...]

A day before the European Commission was to publicize its report on the Stabilization and Association Process for the country and the region, the High Representative in BiH, Paddy Ashdown told Dnevni List that he had not seen the report and could not say what the results would be. “But, even if I had, I wouldn’t tell you”, the High Representative s [...]

Putting emphasis on the victimization of all three peoples in BiH ahead of the local elections is very dangerous and destructive for the whole country, says High Representative, Paddy Ashdown “I hope that in this pre-election period we are going to think of the future, not of the past. However, I know that prior to earlier elections politicians wo [...]

I'm very concerned because if we don't accelerate the current pace of reforms, I fear we won't succeed * I'm optimistic about the implementation of the decision on the administration of the City of Mostar * A dispute about electricity for «Aluminum» is an attempt to manipulate for political purposes. The International Community’s High Representati [...]

“I know it’s difficult when a foreigner judges public opinion in a country he or she comes to, but what citizens think about an issue is important to me. My legitimacy is based on the Dayton Agreement but my powers are based, among other things, on the acceptance by citizens of the job I’m doing. I always ask my associates what citizens think abou [...]

Today at noon, in Mostar, High Representative Paddy Ashdown will announce the Decision on the future organisation of this city. We spoke to Lord Ashdown yesterday in his Sarajevo office, shortly before his departure for Mostar.

Ahead of us are the last 14 hours of negotiations with political parties and other representatives. I can’t say that we are looking at anything else but a “zero” chance to reach a consensus, although we will try to reach that consensus during these last negotiations. However, I am not optimistic. In any case, today is decision day for Mostar, and i [...]