TRIŠIĆ-BABIĆ: HIGHTIME TO END THE OHR'S TERM

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 4 /SRNA/ – Acting Director of the Republika Srpska International Cooperation Office Ana Trišić-Babić told SRNA that it is not normal for representatives of foreign countries to continue coming to Sarajevo 30 years after the war in BiH to select a person who will exercise supreme authority, adding that the time has come to end the term of the OHR.

"The fact that for days we have been bombarded with information and half-information from a completely closed and non-transparent process, accompanied by an aggressive campaign by Sarajevo and its mentors to preserve the OHR and the Bonn Powers, shows why our principled position since 2006 has been the correct one," Trišić-Babić told SRNA. She recalled that more than 15 years ago, the Venice Commission stated that the powers of the high representative were anomalous and that a transition toward democracy was necessary, while the European Court of Human Rights expressed the expectation that this temporary arrangement would soon be brought to an end. "Now is the time," Trišić Babić said. She emphasized that people in Republika Srpska are educated and understand that no one else is governed in such a manner. "I cannot say everything I know, but I am proud of the extent to which Banja Luka's positions, arguments, and interests are present and how strongly they are being advocated," Trišić-Babić stressed. She added that the United States has a coherent position, supported at the level of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which largely reflects the position of Banja Luka as well. Trišić-Babić stated that a number of European Union member states have an irrational fear of sitting down, recognizing Banja Luka as a partner and stakeholder, and engaging in dialogue. The political directors of the member states of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council /PIC/, during their two-day meeting in Sarajevo, failed to reach a consensus on a candidate for the post of high representative, although such appointments are not within their formal competence. They postponed a decision until the end of the month. The appointment of a high representative is expected by the end of June. During the two-day discussions, two candidates emerged as frontrunners: Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, nominated by Italy with the support of the United States, and French diplomat René Troccaz, nominated by France with the backing of Germany and the United Kingdom, report FBiH media.