07.11.2006 OHR Sarajevo

Transcript of the International Agencies’ Joint Press Conference

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OHR, Mario Brkic
OSCE, Aida Besic
EUFOR, Nicholas Foster

 

OHR

Schwarz-Schilling in the United States

The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, is traveling to the United States today for a three-day visit to New York and Washington DC.

The focal point of the visit is an address to the UN Security Council tomorrow at which the High Representative and EU Special Representative will provide his analysis of developments and trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina since he last addressed the UN Security Council six months ago.

In his address, the High Representative and EU Special Representative will also discuss the status of decertified police and urge the UN Security Council to resolve this issue.

We will make a copy of the speech available tomorrow.

In New York, Mr Schwarz-Schilling has a series of further meetings, including with JeanMarie Guéhenno  the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

From New York, the High Representative and EU Special Representative moves to Washington DC where he will meet with key individuals at the State Department and National Security Council, including Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for Europe, Clint Williamson, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crime Issues, and Judy Ansley, Senior Director for European Affairs.

 

High Representative/EU Special Representative Congratulates Presidency

The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, congratulated the three members of Bosnia and Herzegovina ’s Presidency – Zeljko Komsic, Nebojsa Radmanovic and Haris Silajdzic – on their inauguration yesterday and wished them well in the coming four years.

 

New Deputy High Representative Takes Over OHR Banja Luka

A new Deputy High Representative, Clarisse Pasztory, will travel to Banja Luka today to head the Office of the High Representative there.

Ms Pasztory is an Austrian with many years experience working in the Balkans in a variety of capacities.

Since 2004, she has been working in Kosovo, initially as a political adviser to the Personal Representative of the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, then as a spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo and most recently as a political adviser to the Kosovo status talks.

Previously, between 2001 and 2004, Ms Pasztory worked in Skopje as a senior political adviser in the Office of the Special Representative of the European Union there.

Earlier in her career, Ms Pasztory had a series of positions in Austria.

Ms Pasztory succeeds Kate Fearon, who has been acting head of the Office of the High Representative in Banja Luka since August.

 

OSCE

Delegation of BiH Education Officials Visits Northern Ireland

Eight members of the Coordination Board for the Implementation of the Interim Agreement on Accommodation of Needs and Rights of Returnee Children and representatives of the OSCE Education Department left yesterday to Northern Ireland for a four-day study trip. The study trip is hosted by the OSCE Mission to BiH in cooperation with the University of Ulster UNESCO Centre .

During their stay the participants will visit primary and secondary schools and meet with representatives of the UNESCO Centre and Northern Ireland education authorities. The education system in Northern Ireland still largely reflects the two main cultural traditions. However, all schools receive state funding and must implement the common curriculum.

The main purpose of this visit is to observe best practices in the development of integrated learning communities and to identify potential solutions for Bosnia and Herzegovina ’s educational system. It will also show how to design an education system that is more responsive, culturally diverse and that fits the needs and interests of all students in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

 

EUFOR

Harvesting a Safer Future

As a result of assistance from the BiH public, further unlicensed weapons were removed from local communities for safe disposal by EUFOR this weekend.  Recovered as part of the Harvest Campaign run jointly by the Civil Protection Agency, Local Police and EUFOR, on Saturday in the towns of Poklecani and Hadzici, over 2500 rounds of ammunition and 14 hand grenades were received.  On Sunday in the town of Doboj to the North West of Tuzla, a local man handed in a bag of 15 hand grenades to a collection point for safe disposal.

Excess illegal weapons and ammunition continue to cause accidents, frequently involving children.  Like all accidents, these could be avoided.  Anyone with information on the location of un-licensed weapons or munitions should notify their local police or the Civilian Protection Agency to ensure that they are safely removed and disposed of.

EUFOR praise the trust and support of the individuals that assist the local authorities in this matter and recognize such actions reflect to everyone the growing confidence that citizens place in both the safe and secure environment and the progress made in terms of stability and security by the BiH authorities.

 

RTQs:

Zana Kovacevic, RFE:

Question for OHR. What will be the topic of Washington talks?

OHR:

Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the topic. We shall have more details in coming days. High Representative will be in the USA tomorrow.