Lajčak determined to stand his ground

High Representative Miroslav Lajcak said Wednesday in Brussels his latest set of measures will remain in place. The Slovak diplomat, the international community's highest envoy to Bosnia-Herzegovina, also said the current political crisis there is in no way connected to the Kosovo status settlement process. Lajcak determined to stand his ground "My moves in Bosnia have no connection to Kosovo… I will not change my decisions because they are beneficial to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I expect the situation to calm down, and to have the country stirred toward European integrations," Lajcak said after meeting EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. He once again reiterated that the Serb side overreacted to his move to change the decision making procedures for the Bosnian Council of Ministers, adding that the crisis sprang either out of misunderstanding or a lack of trust. "This is an artificially created crisis," Lajcak maintained. He also voiced hope that officials in Bosnia will act in good faith, but warned that "should someone play a different game, the international community will have to act." On October 19, the high representative introduced changes and amendments to the Bosnian Law on Council of Ministers. Banja Luka, and then Belgrade, reacted with sharp criticism saying the decision allowed the Bosnian Serb entity to be outvoted in the council. Lajcak maintains that this is not the case. This week, he met with Republic of Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, while the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and RS legal teams attempted to come up with a compromise. But Dodik has said the "minimum required" to overcome the crisis would be for Lajcak to withdraw or "significantly improve" his decision, enabling for new provisions that would eliminate any possibility of outvoting. Lajcak repeated yesterday that Bosnia-Herzegovina was a dysfunctional state, facing numerous problems, with its political representatives unable to come up with a future strategy of action or agree on their goals – a reason behind a lack of progress in that country. The Slovak diplomat added the international community will be present in Bosnia "for as long as it is needed", and described the OHR as a reaction to a problem, rather than the problem itself. Lajcak also said he will meet this month with the leaders of the six parliamentary parties to discuss harmonizing a proposal for a new Bosnian constitution. In Banja Luka Thursday, the RS legal team has asked for a meeting with the high representative, where its proposals for amending the controversial decisions will be presented. Miroslav Lajcak, international high rep to Bosnia (FoNet, archive)

Lajčak determined to stand his ground

"My moves in Bosnia have no connection to Kosovo… I will not change my decisions because they are beneficial to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I expect the situation to calm down, and to have the country stirred toward European integrations," Lajčak said after meeting EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

He once again reiterated that the Serb side overreacted to his move to change the decision making procedures for the Bosnian Council of Ministers, adding that the crisis sprang either out of misunderstanding or a lack of trust.

"This is an artificially created crisis," Lajčak maintained.

He also voiced hope that officials in Bosnia will act in good faith, but warned that "should someone play a different game, the international community will have to act."

On October 19, the high representative introduced changes and amendments to the Bosnian Law on Council of Ministers.

Banja Luka, and then Belgrade, reacted with sharp criticism saying the decision allowed the Bosnian Serb entity to be outvoted in the council.

Lajčak maintains that this is not the case.

This week, he met with Republic of Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, while the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and RS legal teams attempted to come up with a compromise.

But Dodik has said the "minimum required" to overcome the crisis would be for Lajčak to withdraw or "significantly improve" his decision, enabling for new provisions that would eliminate any possibility of outvoting.

Lajčak repeated yesterday that Bosnia-Herzegovina was a dysfunctional state, facing numerous problems, with its political representatives unable to come up with a future strategy of action or agree on their goals – a reason behind a lack of progress in that country.

The Slovak diplomat added the international community will be present in Bosnia "for as long as it is needed", and described the OHR as a reaction to a problem, rather than the problem itself.

Lajčak also said he will meet this month with the leaders of the six parliamentary parties to discuss harmonizing a proposal for a new Bosnian constitution.

In Banja Luka Thursday, the RS legal team has asked for a meeting with the high representative, where its proposals for amending the controversial decisions will be presented.