Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – a Parallel Crisis
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Bosnia's Future
Bosnia’s Future Europe Report N°232 | 10 July 2014 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i Recommendations..................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. The Quest for Identity ...................................................................................................... 5 III. A Patronage Economy ...................................................................................................... 11 A. The Sextet ................................................................................................................... 11 B. The Economic Paradox .............................................................................................. 13 C. Some Remedies .......................................................................................................... 15 IV. The Trouble with the Entities ........................................................................................... 17 A. Ambivalence in the Federation .................................................................................. 18 B. Republika Srpska’s High-Stakes Gamble -
This Is How It All Began... Learn More About the Centre Of
Centre of Cultivating Dialogue 1997 – 2016 THIS IS HOW IT ALL BEGAN... Back in 1997, a handful of enthusiasts initiated a program one hardly could have predicted for bright future considering the political, economic and educational situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Differences and divisions in the country were much more pronounced than today, which was especially noticed in educational program. However, sixteen years later the program can boast with a number of activities and participants to be envied by many, even most respected international programs. The first teachers to be involved in the program could not have even imagined they would be a part of the team that would participate in activities like seminars, meetings, round table discussions, and summer camps, debate activities in schools, TV debates, and world championships. Even less could they imagine that these activities would become a matter of tradition, one that future generations can look up to and admire. Since then more than 350 high school teachers from 75 Bosnian towns were educated through, on average, somewhat less than 150 activities per year. The program itself was obviously not created for teachers, but first and foremost for the benefit of young people in BiH. The goal has been to educate and train young people in debating skills and consequently in democracy and tolerance, which can be applied daily. This is Centre of Cultivating Dialogue, a program which sets debate as a contemporary method of education, through direct cooperation of all participants and constant rhetoric, cross examination, argumentation, research exercises… The total number of people involved in the aforementioned activities has grown to 33.000 and all of them have at least some experience they use today. -
STATE BUILDING in DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETIES BEYOND DAYTON in BOSNIA Sofia Sebastian Aparicio
STATE BUILDING IN DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETIES BEYOND DAYTON IN BOSNIA Sofia Sebastian Aparicio A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Government of the London School of Economics in Fulfillment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Government London School of Economics October 2009 UMI Number: U615B05 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U615B05 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 T tte B S q (9 0 ot Porttce1 Declaration I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the MPhil/PhD degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others (in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it). The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of the author. -
Local Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 October 2012)
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Chamber of Local Authorities 24th SESSION Strasbourg, 19-21 mars 2013 CPL(24)3PROV 20 février 2013 Local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 October 2012) Bureau of the Congress Rapporteur: Amy KOOPMANSCHAP, Netherlands (L,SOC1) Draft Resolution (for vote) ....................................................................................................................... 2 Draft Recommendation (for vote) ............................................................................................................ 3 Explanatory Memorandum (for vote) ...................................................................................................... 5 Summary The Congress appointed a delegation to observe the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 October 2012, deploying 9 teams around the country on that day. The Committee of the Regions of the European Union accepted the Congress’ invitation to join the delegation with four members. In general the delegation observed that election day proceeded smoothly and the Central Election Commission (CEC) was well prepared. Improvements had been made after the last local elections in 2008, nevertheless the Congress makes further recommendations, in particular to professionalise the Election Committees and to reduce the political influence overall, including on domestic observers. Furthermore, clarification is required as to those who are able to vote after the Central Voters Register has closed, and this also has an impact on the date -
Parliamentary Assembly Assemblée Parlementaire
Parliamentary Assembly Assemblée parlementaire http://assembly.coe.int Doc. 13300 13 September 2013 The functioning of democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina Report1 Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) Co-rapporteurs: Ms Karin S. WOLDSETH, Norway, European Democrat Group, and Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, Group of the European People's Party Summary The Monitoring Committee strongly regrets, following the October 2010 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the long delay in forming the government: at State level it was formed only in February 2012, more than 14 months after the elections. The committee is also seriously concerned about the ongoing political crisis following the break-up of the six- party coalition at State level in May 2012. To date, the new coalition partners have still not managed to reshuffle the Federation-level government. As a result, the Federation is completely paralysed and not functioning. It is also seriously concerned about a growing disrespect for the rule of law. Republika Srpska high officials have repeatedly attacked key State institutions. In the Federation, there have been numerous cases in which political leaders and parties ignored, or in some cases directly violated, requirements set out in constitutions and laws. More worrying still is the growing trend simply not to implement judgments of the State-level Constitutional Court. According to the committee, in order to end the perpetual cycle of deadlock and confrontation, the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the key political stakeholders should shoulder their responsibilities, stop obstructionism and work constructively at the level of State institutions. -
Post-Monitoring of Local and Regional Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
26th SESSION Strasbourg, 25-27 March 2014 CG(26)13FINAL 27 March 2014 Post-monitoring of local and regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina Rapporteurs: 1 Jean-Marie BELLIARD, France (R, EPP/CCE) Beat HIRS, Switzerland (L, ILDG) Resolution 369 (2014) ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Recommendation 356 (2014) ............................................................................................................................. 4 Explanatory memorandum ................................................................................................................................. 6 Summary This is the first post-monitoring report on local and regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It emphasises the efforts made to improve the legislative framework, which now explicitly mentions the Charter. The rapporteurs welcome the carrying out of the population census in order to improve the delivery of public services at local level and are delighted that the authorities have expressed agreement about the need to ensure that legislation is consistent where local self-government is concerned. However, the report does express some concerns about the lack of measures in response to Recommendation 324, relating in particular to the absence of constitutional reform which would safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights. The report also highlights a lack of action in respect of the recognition of municipal property and the improvement of -
Courting Disaster
COURTING DISASTER: THE MISRULE OF LAW IN BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 25 March 2002 Balkans Report No. 127 Sarajevo/Brussels TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................i I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................1 II. THE LEGAL CONTEXT................................................................................................................................4 A. POST-WAR LEGAL AND JUDICIAL REFORM.........................................................................................5 B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ........................................................................................................8 1. Independent Judicial Commission (IJC) ........................................................................................8 2. Office of the High Representative (OHR)......................................................................................9 3. UN Mission in Bosnia & Herzegovina (UNMIBH).....................................................................10 4. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)....................................................10 5. Council of Europe (CoE) .............................................................................................................10 6. American Bar Association and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) .11 -
Report from CEE Bankwatch, Center for Environment and Ekotim Fact-Finding Mission on Corridor Vc Motorway Project, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 14-15 September 2009
Report from CEE Bankwatch, Center for Environment and Ekotim fact-finding mission on Corridor Vc motorway project, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 14-15 September 2009 Introduction The two-day fact-finding mission was a follow-up from one carried out on 17-19 March 2009, which had identified five main issues to be followed up: • The motorway’s likely visual impact on the tentative World Heritage site at Pocitelj • The motorway’s likely impacts on Blagaj and its surroundings - agricultural land, housing and spatial issues (the forming of a barrier across the valley) and possible visual impacts on the tentative World Heritage site • The route to be taken across the planned Prenj-Cvrsnica-Cabulja National Park • Potential impacts on the Kravica Waterfalls, from a landscape or water protection perspective • Progress with the Resettlement Action Plan and the consultation of local people. Following the first mission a report was compiled and its results presented to the EBRD at its Annual General Meeting. Some follow-up questions were also sent to the bank on 01.06.2009 regarding Pocitelj and Kravica Waterfalls and a response was received on 10.07.2009. Communication with the FBiH Roads Directorate also took place regarding the Resettlement Action Plan in early April, as well as responding to some media enquiries about our findings. In the period since our first visit the issues regarding Blagaj and Pocitelj have gained much greater prominence in Bosnia-Herzegovina and opinions have become highly polarised on the topic. Draft proposals for including changes to the route at Blagaj and Pocitelj were approved by the Federal Government on 27.08.2009. -
The Dynamics of Conflict in the Multi-Ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina
STUDY The Dynamics of Conflict in the Multi-ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Conflict-Analysis Study TIMO KIvIMäKI, MARINA KRAMeR AND PAUl PASCH March 2012 Timo Kivimäki, Marina Kramer and Paul Pasch The Dynamics of COnFlict In the MUlti-ethnic State of Bosnia AnD HerzegovInA SarajEvO, 2012. Title: The Dynamics of Conflict in the Multi-ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina Authors: Timo Kivimäki, Marina Kramer and Paul Pasch Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kupreška 20 71 000 Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Tel.: +387 (0)33 722-010 E-mail: [email protected] www.fes.ba © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Responsible: Paul Pasch Proofreading: Gwen jones DTP: Filip Andronik CIP - Katalogizacija u publikaciji nacionalna i univerzitetska biblioteka Bosne i Hercegovine, Sarajevo 323.1(497.6) KIvIMÄKI, Timo The dynamic of conflict in the multi-ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina : country conflict-analysis study / Timo Kivimäki, Marina Kramer and Paul Pasch. - Sarajevo : Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2012. - 127 str. : graf. prikazi ; 30 cm Bibliografija: str. 117-122 i uz tekst. ISBn 978-9958-884-17-7 1. Kramer, Marina 2. Pasch, Paul COBISS.BH-ID 19946502 The Dynamics of Conflict in the Multi-ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Conflict-Analysis Study TIMO KIvIMäKI, MARINA KRAMeR AND PAUl PASCH SarajEvO, 2012. TIMO KIvIMäKI, MARINA KRAMeR AND PAUl PASCH | THe DYNAMICS Of CONflICT IN THe MUlTI-eTHNIC State Of BOSNIA AND HeRzeGOvINA Table of Contents foreword ...........................................................................................................................7 -
COMMITTEE of MINISTERS of EUROPE DE L'europe Committee of Ministers SECRÉTARIAT DU COMITE DES MINISTRES Comité Des Ministres
SECRETARIAT GENERAL COUNCIL CONSEIL SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF EUROPE DE L'EUROPE Committee of Ministers SECRÉTARIAT DU COMITE DES MINISTRES Comité des Ministres Contact: Simon Palmer Tel: 03.88.41.26.12 Date: 27/04/2010 DH - DD(2010)224 Item reference: Communication from an NGO in the case of Suljagic against Bosnia and Herzegovina (Application No. 27912/02) and response of the Government. Information made available under Rule 9.3 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments. Référence du point Communication : par une ONG dans l'affaire Suljagic contre Bosnie-Herzégovine (Requête n° 27912/02) et observations du gouvernement (anglais uniquement). Informations mises à disposition en vertu de la Règle 9.3 des Règles du Comité des Ministres pour la surveillance de l’exécution des arrêts. This document will be declassified after the 1086th DH meeting, in accordance with Rule 8 (Access to information) of the rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments and of the terms of friendly settlements. Ce document sera déclassifié à l’issue de la 1086e réunion DH conformément à la règle 8 (Accès aux informations) des Règles du Comité des Ministres pour la surveillance de l'exécution des arrêts et des termes des règlements amiables In the application of Article 21 b of the rules of procedure of the Committee of Ministers, it is understood that distribution of documents at the request of a Representative shall be under the sole responsibility of the said Representative, without prejudice to the legal or political position of the Committee of Ministers (CM/Del/Dec(2001 )772/1.4). -
BANK GROUP the WORLD BANK Paterstrassea3121 WORLD BANKGROUP Vienna, Austria, 1020
WORLD BANK GROUP THE WORLD BANK Paterstrassea3121 WORLD BANKGROUP Vienna, Austria, 1020 LINDA VAN GELDER Regional Director Western Balkans OFFICIAL Europe and Central Asia Region DOCUMENTS Public Disclosure Authorized August 6, 2020 HE. Vjekoslav Bevanda Minister BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury Trg BiH 1, 71000 Sarajevo BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Dear Mr. Minister, Public Disclosure Authorized Amendment to Loan Agreements We refer to the loan agreements entered into between Bosnia and llerzegovina (the "Borrower") and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "Bank") in respect of the Loans listed in Annex I to this letter (the "Loan Agreements"'). We also refer to the letter. dated August 6, 2020 explaining the rationale for the requested amendments. In connection with the LIBOR transition planning and the Bank's objective to preserve alignment between its funding and lending costs, we hereby confirm the Bank's agreement to amend the relevant provisions of each of the Loan Agreements for the Loans listed in Annex 1 to this letter so as to modify the General Conditions and Loan Agreements Public Disclosure Authorized applicable to such Loans as provided in Annex 2 to this letter. Furthermore, it is the intent of the Bank and the Borrower to implement equivalent amendments to all Loan Agreements which may have LIBOR or EURIBOR as the applicable reference rate to the interest under the Loan. Accordingly, if any such Loan is not listed in Annex 1, the corresponding Loan Agreement shall be deemed so amended by virtue of this amendment. In the interests of fairness, transparency, and consistency, we are offering the same tens to all borrowers for all Bank loans. -
Waiting for a Miracle Is the Most Conservative Option
Waiting for a miracle? The politics of constitutional change in Bosnia and Herzegovina February 3rd 2004 Since ESI released its proposal for a process of constitutional change in Bosnia and Herzegovina three weeks ago,1 a lively public debate has emerged. There have been extensive discussions on Bosnian television and in newspapers and magazines in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar. The reactions have not divided along traditional ethnic lines, with supporters and critics appearing on all sides. This new, intense debate on constitutional reform has been noted in the international press (International Herald Tribune, 13 January and 3 February; the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 21 January).2 Most importantly, there has been an immediate reaction from the very politicians in Bosnia who alone would be able to initiate a process of constitutional change. One of the main governing parties in the Federation, the HDZ, has embraced the vision of a three- layered Bosnian Federation (based on its existing ten cantons, the Republika Srpska and the District of Brcko) as its own and has prepared draft legislation to initiate a process of step-by-step reform. Publicly distancing himself from calls for a third entity, Barisa Colak, HDZ president and state government minister, has suggested that the Federation could be abolished within three years. As the HDZ enters into discussions with its principal coalition partners, there is now a real possibility that a process of negotiated yet fundamental constitutional change could begin in 2004. The ESI proposal for abolishing the Federation and creating a simplified, federal structure of twelve units was first introduced on 8 January by the Sarajevo weekly BIH Dani, which described it as “a brilliant idea for getting out of the post-war constitutional blind alley which paralyses progress.” It received immediate support from the Federation president, Niko Lozancic (Veþernji List, 12 January 2004).