Address
by Mr. Zeljko Mirjanic, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
On behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina we
would like to greet our hosts to whom, like the other participants of
the Conference, we express our gratitude for the hospitality and great
effort they have invested into successfully organising this Conference,
and all the participants, expressing our satisfaction with the fact
that we, as the representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia
and Herzegovina are now gathered together with the representatives of
the Parliaments of other countries from the region as well as with the
representatives of Parliamentary Assemblies of Council of Europe, OSCE
NATO, CEI, and representatives of the Stability Pact for South-East
Europe and the Democratic Institute of the Netherlands.
We give our support to
the Declaration of the Presidents of the Parliaments as a step forward
and a significant phase in the promotion of the process of co-operation
in South-East Europe which comes as a logical continuation of the recently
Held Summit of the Heads of States and Governments.
The accession of Bosnia
and Herzegovina to full membership in the Summit was greeted by our
public as a sign of support to democratic efforts in the implementation
of Dayton accords and orientation toward reforms in our country.
As concerning the parliamentary
life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are now in the final phase of constituting
our House of Peoples, which wlll be constituted by the end of March,
whereby the whole processs of completion of the Parliamentary Assembly
after the November elections will be finalised. In April, the newly
elected Parliament, in which, in accordance with the Constitution of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, both Houses of Parliament participate equally,
will start with its legislative activities.
The House of Representatives
has already elected the new Council of Ministers. The programme of the
new Council focuses on the resolution of economic and social problems,
recovery of economy, increasing the employment level, in short: addressing
the vital, day-to-day problems of the citizens. It gives great weight
to increasing the economic co-operation with the neigbouring and other
countries in the region.
The Council of Ministers
has opened the process of co-operation with the Governments of the Entities
and is supporting their mutual co-operation in the process of reform,
based upon the constitutional provisions regarding their competences.
This gives us reason for optimism, since this is making our country
look more and more like other countries of Europe.
The new Concil of Ministers
is not composed of the parties that were dominant in the BiH institutions
during the past decade and this has ben received favourably by the international
community. The parties with the parliamentary majority, and which have
elected the Council of Ministers, share in common their stand that the
governmental institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina should take over
their responsibility for the development and stability of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. In order for them to suceed in that, it is necessary efficiently
to implement the Dayton Agreement, to continue supporting the present
positive tendencies regarding the return of refugees and to prevent
political destabilisation. This is only possible if the differences
are resolved within the institutions, with full respect given to the
equality of peoples and observance of the equal rights of the Entities,
respecting individual and collective human rights. Further efforts are
awaiting us in enhancing democratic development, tolerance and reconciliation.
As concerning the foreign
policy relations, it is necessary to increase our co-operation with
the neighbouring and other countries in the region, based upon respect
for their sovereignty and integrity, and the principle of non-interference
in their internal matters. Every country should by itself resolve its
own internal problems, while at the same time co-operating with other
countries of the region. The priority should be given to economic co-operation.
From the reasons I have
just mentioned, we support the Declaration as a document that opens
a road to greater bilateral and regional co-operation, expressed particularly
through joint projects, which, as such, get the support of international
institutions more easily.
The main problem that
we are facing is political destabilisation, which undoubtedly leads
further to economic stagnation and deepening social problems.
The lesson that we could
draw from the experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina is that we should
preserve and build peace as a universal value, without which no other
value in the personal, family and social life is possible.
Finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina
has also to address the problem of affirming itself in international
relations, and the first step toward this goal is the accession to the
Council of Europe. There is a political consensus reached in Bosnia
and Herzegovina that this issue is of paramount importance for BiH.
We do expect support and understanding in this and we are glad that
you have shown interest for the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
for the way its parliamentary life develops.
