KALABUKHOV: CLOSURE OF OHR WOULD HELP STABILIZE SITUATION

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 4 /SRNA/ - Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov believes that the closure of the Office of the High Representative /OHR/ would contribute to stabilizing the situation in BiH.

Kalabukhov said he expects the development of BiH to continue and that "it is now more than obvious that the OHR, which has been in a `dormant state,` has reached the stage of closure". "It is clear that not everyone is particularly interested in finding someone to take on the position of High Representative. This is yet another indication that the Office of the High Representative is nearing its end," Kalabukhov told Glas Srpske. He pointed out that one of the shortcomings of the OHR is that it has displaced the possibility of internal dialogue in BiH. "The OHR has become some kind of external instrument activated by certain parties to pursue their own interests," Kalabukhov added. He assessed that the situation in BiH as a whole is developing according to its own dynamics. "BiH is now entering the election campaign, and it is very interesting to see how each party is approaching it. Certain developments have clarified the political relations. We will see how the new electoral technologies promoted by the OSCE and the CEC will affect the elections," Kalabukhov said. He believes there is sufficient experience for BiH and its entities to organize the elections themselves.