prijava
SARAJEVO, September 29 (FENA) - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak assessed the assistance provided by the United States and the European Union to BiH in terms of much-needed changes in the election legislation.
Commenting for FENA on the arrival of the State Department envoy in charge of electoral reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Matthew Palmer, Crnadak said that this shows that the United States now has the most serious intention to bring about electoral changes.
"This is the first time that the State Department has appointed a special envoy specifically to amend the BiH Election Law. Republika Srpska has no reason to fear it because it was announced that the American administration will adhere to the Dayton Peace Agreement and the constitutional structures established by it," Crnadak adds.
He notes that this should be satisfactory on the Republika Srpska side, which is why he welcomes Palmer's announcement to implement the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE in terms of greater transparency and fairer elections.
"This is meant to stop the election robberies that we witnessed in previous election cycles and to stop the threats, blackmail and pressure to which voters, especially in the RS, were exposed," Crnadak further explains.
He expects that the BiH Election Law will be amended earlier than the general elections planned for October next year.
Palmer, who should arrive in BiH today and meet with officials in the next few days, said earlier that "politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a responsibility to reach compromises and make difficult decisions."
He stressed that the United States believes that reform of the election law should be implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will ensure greater transparency and accountability.
(FENA) L. N.
