The PIC Steering Board, which met in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday, said in a statement that "the OHR will remain in place and continue to carry out its mandate under the Dayton Peace Agreement and specifically Annex 10 thereof, ensuring full respect of the Peace Agreement. In line with the general consensus of PIC Steering Board members, the aim is OHR closure by 30 June 2008. The PIC Steering Board agreed to review the situation at its meetings in October 2007 and February 2008."
In accordance with its June 2006 decision, the Board reviewed the OHR closure for which preparations have been ongoing since mid-2006. Last June, it also decided that a New Office of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) should replace the OHR, but the former would be given no interventionist powers.
"In its deliberations, the PIC Steering Board took into account and assessed carefully the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region based on the High Representative"s assessment. Following careful consideration, the PIC Steering Board decided against confirming OHR closure at this time."
The Board recalled "that it is in the interest of all for Bosnia and Herzegovina to take full responsibility for its own affairs. The policy of ownership remains the guiding principle. The International Community will help Bosnia and Herzegovina to make the final steps from peace implementation to Euro-Atlantic integration as soon as possible."
"The Steering Board underlined that it would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement. Political Directors recognised the stable security situation and reaffirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a recognised sovereign state whose territorial integrity is guaranteed by the Dayton Peace Agreement," the statement reads.
According to the current High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling, who held a news conference in Brussels today, the Russian Federation expressed some reservation towards the prolongation of the OHR mandate.
Russia was not against the prolongation, but insisted on a six-month extension, the German diplomat told reporters.
The PIC consists of representatives of about 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, the Russian Federation, Japan, the European Union and some international organisations.