OHR ASTOUNDED BY REJECTION OF UNIFORM BH PASSPORTS

SARAJEVO, Aug 30 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina harshly criticised the refusal of Republika Srpska deputies in BH's parliament to endorse the introduction of uniform passports for the whole country. A statement issued on Wednesday says the OHR is astounded by the utter irresponsibility some members of the BH parliament's House of Representatives showed at Tuesday's session. Even though the statement does not mention representatives from Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb entity, explicitly, it is to them the criticism refers because they refused to discuss a bill introducing a uniform BH passport. At present, citizens of BH have three different passports whose covers, besides that of the state, also bear the name of one of BH's two entities. The introduction of passports which would bear insignia of the state of BH alone is an obligation BH's three-member Presidency assumed in March. It was also ratified by the Peace Implementation Council, which monitors the implementation of peace in BH. Bosnian Serb representatives refused to take a position on the bill even though it was previously harmonised by BH's government, the Council of Ministers. The Serb representatives said it was another attempt at centralisation. (hina) ha jn