OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HIGH

UNCLAS STATE 060218

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL OSCE BO
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HIGH
REPRESENTATIVE LAJCAK


1. Post is authorized to present the following statement at
the June 5 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna in response to
the report by the High Representative and EU Special
Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Lajcak.

Begin text:

Mr. Chairman,

The United States welcomes High Representative Miroslav
Lajcak to the Permanent Council. Thank you for your
comprehensive report. We appreciate the constructive
cooperation between your office and the OSCE Mission, and
look forward to an ongoing good relationship.

The United States fully supports the work of the Office of
the High Representative and applauds the progress made thus
far on the objectives the Peace Implementation Council has
mandated be fulfilled before the Office of the High
Representative can be closed. In particular, we congratulate
the High Representative and the government of Bosnia and
Herzegovina on the passage of legislation on police reform
and on the upcoming June 16 signing of a Stabilization and
Association agreement with the European Union. We also
commend your May 30 actions against individuals suspected of
supporting war crimes fugitive Stojan Zupljanin.
Apprehension of the remaining fugitives from The Hague
Tribunal is critical for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the entire region.

We also welcome NATO,s decision at the Bucharest Summit to
begin an Intensified Dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina on
membership questions as another step on its on its path to
Euro-Atlantic integration. However, we note concern that
nationalist rhetoric could increase in the lead up to the
October 5 municipal elections. Republika Srspka Prime
Minister Dodik,s recent anti-state rhetoric in CROATIA is
unacceptable and inconsistent with his constituents,
aspirations for a European future. Bosnia and Herzegovina
now has the opportunity to move steadily towards EU and NATO
membership. This opportunity should not be squandered.

Mr. Chairman, now is the time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to
focus on completing the objectives identified by the Peace
Implementation Council as essential for ensuring future peace
and stability and therefore necessary to complete prior to
OHR transition. The United States looks forward to working
with the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities and the High
Representative and the OSCE to ensure that all objectives are
meaningfully implemented. We are confident in the High
Representative,s abilities to assist Bosnia,s leaders
toward this goal.

Thank you again, Ambassador Lajcak, for your helpful report
and the support you have given to the OSCE. We wish you all
the best in your work.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE