SARAJEVO, May 27 (Hina) - The newly-appointed High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday called on politicians and ordinary citizens to support fast and radical reforms, especially in the country's judiciary
and economy.
SARAJEVO, May 27 (Hina) - The newly-appointed High Representative
to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday called on
politicians and ordinary citizens to support fast and radical
reforms, especially in the country's judiciary and economy. #L#
Shortly after he took over his office, Ashdown addressed
representatives in the Bosnian parliament in a long speech, which
was covered live by both entities' televisions.
Presenting an ambitious plan of reforms, the High Representative
stressed that they could be implemented only with the full
cooperation of local authorities and international community and
urged local officials to take on a much greater share of
responsibility than had been the case so far.
Ashdown said that the Dayton peace agreement would remain the basis
of his work, however, he added that the 1995 agreement had served to
stop a war and not build a state.
The Dayton agreement can be the basis, but it cannot be the roof and
it will have to be amended, he said.
He dismissed the possibility of calling a new peace conference on
Bosnia, adding that a gradual process was required to bring about
the desired changes.
Ashdown said that the rule of law was his absolute priority, and
added that in months to come one could expect a crackdown on the
bearers of organised crime and the country's mob.
Ashdown believes that the second biggest problem in the country is
the situation in economy, which he said needed urgent improvement.
The situation is all the more serious because the country's
external debt has been continually increasing and international
assistance decreasing.
The country is setting aside almost two billion convertible marks
annually for the financing of the hypertrophied state apparatus
which includes 13 governments at different levels and which is
twice the military spending of the United States, taking into
account the countries' size.
Ashdown said that it was meaningless to spend that much money for
the army because there would certainly be no war with neighbouring
countries as what both Croatia and Serbia currently needed was only
rapprochement with European associations.
He also announced the introduction of measures which would
eliminate ethnic division in the education system.
If children are not integrated, Bosnia-Herzegovina will never be
able to leave its past behind, he said.
All reforms must strengthen Bosnia as a state but the country must
also be decentralised, and secure respect for the rights of every
constituent nation.
One of the first decisions adopted by High Representative Ashdown
is to keep the large iron door at the entrance to the OHR always open
so that the institution could be easily accessible and close to
Bosnian citizens.
(hina) rml sb