Nezavisne: Austrian diplomat, Valentin Inzko has yesterday at the session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in BiH in Sarajevo taken over a function of the High Representative of the International Community for BiH from Slovakian diplomat Miroslav Lajčak.

Inzko has said that the European path of BiH is a solution for many problems in country, and has pointed out that everyone who works on the European future of BiH, can count on him as a reliable partner. But, he has added that he will not hesitate to use all his competencies if necessary.

Tasks for BiH governments

The Peace Implementation Council in BiH has in its communiqué from chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH asked to ensure the civil property census, and from the Civil Property Commission to prepare a draft law on civil property. From the Minister of Defense of BiH, it has been asked to prepare decision on transfer of immovable military property. The PIC has invited the governments in BiH to proclaim the July 11th as the Day of remembering the genocide in Srebrenica and has welcomed the resolution of the European Parliament on this BiH town.

"These competencies are not my first choice, but I will not hesitate to use it as a final tool", has been said by Inzko, who comes to a function of the High Representative from a function of the Ambassador of Austria in Slovenia.

The new High Representative has said that we must endure in fulfilling of five goals and two conditions which will enable the transition of the OHR into the office of the special representative of the EU and has added that in that sense the most important is a question of civil property. Inzko has pointed out that the representatives of the governments of BiH in the next period must take into consideration financial challenges with a reminder that the best way of getting out of crisis is achieving the progress on the European path.

He has said that he is aware that in BiH they expect a lot from his role of the high representative, as well as a role of the special representative.

"Who has done well to everyone, that one was never born", Inzko has said. He has also thanked Lajčak for a huge contribution given to a function of the high representative.

The former High Representative, Miroslav Lajčak, who has at the end of January been nominated for a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, has said that fulfilling of five conditions and two goals remain pre-conditions for transformation of the OHR into the office of the special representative of the EU in BiH. Governments of BiH have solved the status of Brčko, mobile military property, established the Fiscal Council.

"The civil and military properties remain a question which should be solved. Because of the unsolved all five conditions, the PIC in BiH could not adopt the decision on abolishment of the OHR. We have anonymously adopted the communiqué today, and have strongly supported the principle of reaching agreements and compromises, which has been started by meetings of the six, and continued by the Prud process", has been said yesterday by Lajčak, who has also said that he is worried by the situation in BiH.

The concern, especially by nationalistic rhetoric and jeopardizing of sovereignty of BiH, has been emphasized yesterday as well, by the adopted communiqué of political directors of the PIC. The PIC has in the adopted communiqué welcomed the Prud process and invited other political parties to include themselves in conversations on important questions in BiH.

"Statements and actions directed to officers of the OHR induce the authority of the high representative and the PIC in BiH. Such behavior must stop immediately", has been written in communiqué.  

Political directors of the PIC have pointed out that the process of constitutional changes must include everyone in BiH. The PIC is worried over the statements on canceling the earlier agreed reforms, and points out that strengthening of state institutions must be continued. They have invited all political parties and officials to respect the reign of law and to stop politicize criminal investigations. The PIC has strongly supported the High Representative, Valentin Inzko and repeated that the obligation of all political parties is a tight cooperation with him.

"We are disappointed by the fact that the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Parliament of BiH have realized less than a half of their plans for the last year. We ask BiH politicians to adopt the necessary reforms in order for BiH not to be excluded from the European agenda. We call on the governments of BiH to implement the European Partnership, because that is the only way for a progress towards the EU", has been stated in communiqué.

Valentin Inzko, High Representative, has said that this is a year of West Balkans in the EU, which means that it is a key one for BiH as well.

"We should not miss a chance for ensuring the quickened progress in implementation of conditions. The International Community is worried by situation in BiH, which we have said to your political representatives, from whom we expect to solve all the issues by agreements and compromises", Inzko has said.