Alexander Lukashevich on the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11 October 2018

STATEMENT BY MR. ALEXANDER LUKASHEVICH,
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION,
AT THE 1197th MEETING OF THE OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL

11 October 2018

On the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Chairperson,
We are satisfied that the elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 October were conducted peacefully. We take a positive view of the work of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which enabled electoral procedures to be implemented in accordance with democratic standards. We are counting on the timely formation of the newly elected representative and executive bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its cantons in the interests of the progressive advancement of the stabilization processes and ensuring socio-economic stability in the country.
We reaffirm the Russian Federation’s principled focus on promoting strict compliance with the 1995 General Framework (Dayton) Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on respect for the powers of the two entities guaranteed by Dayton and the equality of the three constituent peoples – Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. We note that the high level of organization of voting again clearly demonstrated the need to abolish the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as Russia has repeatedly stated, and to transfer full responsibility to the Bosnians.
We are open to a mutually beneficial dialogue with our Bosnian-Herzegovinian partners in the political, investment and economic, and humanitarian spheres. We presume that the further development of constructive co-operation between Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and its entities will contribute to improving the welfare of the citizens of the two countries and their cultural and spiritual mutual enrichment, and also strengthening peace and security in the Balkans.
Thank you for your attention.