OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO OSCE HOM TO

UNCLAS STATE 033932

SIPDIS

VILNIUS FOR MINSK

THE FOLLOWING STATE 033932 DTD 02APR08 SENT ACTION
USOSCE INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
REPEATED FOR YOUR INFO 02APR08


QUOTE:

UNCLAS STATE 033932

SIPDIS
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL BK
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO OSCE HOM TO
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, AMB. DAVIDSON


1. Post is authorized to present the following statement at
the April 3, 2008 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.


2. Begin text:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Welcome back to the Permanent Council, Ambassador Davidson,
and thank you for an excellent report. The United States
regrets that little has changed since your last report and
that political tensions within the country appear
undiminished.

The United States is particularly concerned over the apparent
determination of some politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina
to undermine state-level institutions at every opportunity
and to advance their nationalist policy, both in rhetoric and
in practice.

The statements and actions of Republika Srpska officials and
government bodies, in the past few months in particular, are
cause for concern. Entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina have
no right to secede under the Dayton Peace Accords and Bosnian
Constitution. At the same time, unilateral calls for the
abolition of entities also are unacceptable and anti-Dayton.

We also are concerned by the state of freedom of expression
for members of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
particularly in the Republika Srpska, where there have been
allegations of violations of such freedom and harassment of
NGOs. We hope that the OSCE will soon send its media freedom
representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina to look into these
issues.

The good news, however, is that the OSCE Mission continues to
make meaningful contributions to the reform process despite
the current political climate in the country.

We value the Mission,s efforts, for example, to promote
better governance at the municipal level, and we support the
Mission,s increasing focus on helping certain struggling
municipalities address high unemployment and promote outside
investment. We similarly appreciate the assistance the
Mission continues to provide to the parliaments in Bosnia and
Herzegovina.

The Mission,s field offices are one of its key advantages
over other international bodies. We recognize the important
work the Mission is doing to monitor court proceedings
throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Mission,s
role in supporting the drafting of a Justice Sector Reform
Strategy.

There are many more Mission activities we could commend, as
we have done in the past, including the vital work the
Mission is doing with respect to rule of law, the return of
refugees and displaced persons, arms reduction and war crimes
monitoring.

The United States would also like to commend you and your
staff for your excellent management of the mission. You have
consolidated operations, found efficiencies, prioritized and
rationalized. Please be assured that we will continue to
support you in your efforts to promote budgetary discipline
and streamlining activities while ensuring that the important
work of the mission is carried out.

In sum, Ambassador Davidson, your dedicated staff is making a
real difference in helping Bosnia and Herzegovina address the
many challenges it faces. But the Mission,s efforts can
take the country only so far along its reform path. At the
end of the day, political leaders must work with each other
and find compromise for the country to walk proudly down the
path toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

End text.
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