Public release
Elections 2002
The Coalition of the Non-governmental Organisation in
BiH
"Izbori
2002" (Elections 2002) deems sluggishness in the
constitution of new bodies of authorities unacceptable,
particularly in view of the fact that it is necessity to speed
up undertaking of reforms and to resolve burning issues of the
large number of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Almost
four-and-half-month were spent for election of the Government
of the Federation of BiH, while the constitution of the
executive governmental bodies at the cantonal level has not
been finished. The Council of Peoples of the Republika Srpska
has not been established as yet. Post-electoral procedure has
not been standardised, being left to political self-will of
the winning parties which have forgotten their electoral
promises and dedicated themselves to sharing the power. The
Coalition "Izbori 2002" asks that the procedure of
takeover and establishment of governmental authorities be
legally regulated and time limited.
In
the Federation of BiH, problems related to the establishment
of the Hose of Peoples already appeared at the beginning,
since there was not sufficient number of candidates of Serb
ethnic origin in the cantonal assemblies. It is evident that
the constitutional amandments are imperfect and that even the
Election Law did not regulate this issue. The problem related
to the fulfillment of the Federation Hose of Peoples and the
fact that the representatives of Bosniaks and Croats of the
Republika Srpska mainly live in the BiH Federation, points at
the real situation in respect of the return. It is also
evident that the national as well as other parties took no or
little care of the elected candidated belonging to other two
nations.
A
deadlock in establishment of the new authorities was also
caused by the verification of the candidates for the highest
positions. In respect of war and post-war experiences, the
establishment of suitability for performing the highest
functions can be considered justified. However, the Coalition
of Non-governmental Organisations "Izbori 2002"
deems that it is necessary that the procedure of verification
be legally regulated and transparent.
The
Coalition "Izbori 2002" deems the fact that only one
of 34 ministry places in the governments of the Republika
Srpska and the Federation of BiH are entrusted with woman as
alarming. In the BiH Council of Ministers, only two of nine
ministries are being entrusted with women.
The
Coalition "Izbori 2002" supports the efforts of the
High Representative in strengthening the competence and
responsibilities of the central state bodies as well as the
essense of the project "Job and Justice". However,
if in future the most important decisions are exclusively
passed by the High Representative it would further strengthen
the protectorate dimension in BiH and it would weaken the
motivation and responsibility of domestic bearers of
authorities and discourage internal democratic efforts.
The
Coalition of the Non-governmental Organisations in BiH
"Izbori 2002", which is composed of more than
hundred associations from the entire BiH, asks that domestic
bodies of authorities undertake in the full capacity all their
competence and responsibilities and start resolving key social
issues. The Coalition appeals with the High Representative and
international mission to BiH to give, through their
engagement, full contribution to more efficient activities of
domestic governmental bodies by instisting on the quality
implementation of their commitments and on responsibility for
their implementation or non-implementation.
Srdjan
Dizdarevic
Director of the Coalition
No: 18-02/2003
Sarajevo, 16 February 2003