<a href="https://avaz.ba/tag/36608/bosnia-and-herzegovina">Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina</a>, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec, said today that reports of electoral fraud must be fully investigated and, when warranted, prosecuted. 

 

At the opening of the two-day conference "Response of the Criminal Law Sector on Threats to the Correctness and Integrity of Elections", Kavalec pointed out that electoral fraud cases could be processed more efficiently if cooperation between the judiciary, police and the Central Election Commission (CEC) was improved.
As long-term problems of elections in BiH, she cited discriminatory restrictions based on nationality or residential address, which are an obstacle to candidacy, unequal voting values, the work of polling stations, campaign finance regulations, accuracy of central voters’ register, inadequate appeals and investigations conducted by the CEC and prosecutors' offices, high percentage of invalid ballots, lack of protection of voting secrecy and biased media coverage, including public services.
President of the Central Election Commission of BiH, Suad Arnautović, said that every part of the election process in BiH carries certain illegal actions, starting with the registration of parties and the submission of signatures of support, including a significant number of deceased persons.
He stressed that such actions culminate on election day in the work of committees that oversee polling stations and especially after the closing of polling stations.
Acting Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH Milanko Kajganić underlined that the Prosecutor's Office of BiH will, as never before, be fully involved in all activities aimed at protecting the integrity of the election process, together with police agencies in BiH.
The two-day conference brought together experts from judicial institutions, police agencies, the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of the international community, who will discuss functional coordination between judicial institutions, police agencies and election administration bodies, as well as investigations and prosecutions related to election fraud.

She pointed out that electoral fraud cases could be processed more efficiently if cooperation between the judiciary, police and the Central Election Commission (CEC) was improved

Kavalec: Reports of electoral fraud must be fully investigated and prosecuted

<a href="https://avaz.ba/tag/36608/bosnia-and-herzegovina">Bosnia and Herzegovina will have elections this year,</a> and I urge all politicians to forget about divisions and focus on the rights of everyone in the country, to build a democratic and inclusive future based on equality of all citizens, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Sarajevo today. 
At the end of a four-day official visit to BiH, Bachelet told a news conference that she had the opportunity to meet with senior government officials, civil society representatives, survivors and families of war victims, representatives of the judiciary and the international community.
They discussed, as she stated, peacebuilding, reconciliation, transitional justice, the fight against corruption, women's rights ... She singled out the visit to Srebrenica and the Potočari Memorial Center, where she met with the families of the victims, and pointed to the need for all those responsible to be held accountable for the crimes committed.

<h2>The scars from the 1992 - 1995 war are still present</h2>

Bachelet said they are following the situation in BiH, and that this visit is a good opportunity to discuss a range of human rights issues and challenges that people in BiH, institutions, civil society and everyone else have been facing for almost three decades.

She added that the scars from the 1992-1995 war are still present, but that she is convinced that there is a will and determination among many to build a society for all BiH citizens, who would live in peace, whose rights would be respected and who will live with dignity.
- BiH has acceded to all international instruments for the protection of human rights and that is positive. It also actively cooperates with UN human rights mechanisms. BiH participates in that process, reports on the state of human rights and all that is positive. There are positive steps in terms of domestic laws as well, and I noticed that this week - stated Bachelet.
However, she added, there are also concerns about the implementation of the law, and that some laws are not fully in line with international standards.
- I think that the implementation of key laws in the field of human rights is weak, not all court rulings have been implemented yet, and the institutions that should promote and protect human rights are in a situation where the public does not trust them to a great extent. There are civil society organizations that work to promote transparency, accountability to the public and participation in the decision-making process - said Bachelet.

She believes that the socio-economic rights of the people in this country are influenced by different levels of government which leads to regional inequality. Social protection, health and education, she added, are also affected by the country's regional inequalities.

Speaking about the issue of reparations, she pointed out that it is very important that the victims and their families receive compensation. She added that new laws are needed and the establishment of a fund for compensation of victims, as well as a fund for missing persons, and that the fact that it is impossible to file claims for compensation due to obsolescence is worrying.
Bachelet especially pointed out that BiH has great potential, that everyone must live safely and that the rights of everyone in this country must be respected everywhere.

BiH has acceded to all international instruments for the protection of human rights and that is positive, said Bachelet

Bachelet to BiH politicians: Forget divisions, focus on human rights

Moroccan King Mohammed VI has contracted coronavirus, according to the king's private physician on Thursday.

The monarch "contracted an asymptomatic form of the COVID-19," Professor Lahcen Belyamani said in a statement carried by the official Maghreb Agency.
On Nov. 9, the Moroccan government decided to lift a night curfew imposed across the country following a drop in the number of virus cases in the kingdom.
In early March, Rabat announced the end of an 11-week wave of the omicron variant of the pandemic.

King Mohammed VI contracts asymptomatic form of COVID-19

Moroccan monarch contracts coronavirus

The High Court in Podgorica, as a second instance, passed a verdict sentencing Montenegrin pro-Russian politician Nebojša Medojević to a fine of 1,000 euros, which must be paid to Fahrudin Radončić 15 days after the verdict becomes final, under the threat of forced execution, for causing mental pain and attacks on credibility.
Namely, this decision no. 2937/20, adopted on 24.04.2022. because the mentioned Medojević on his Twitter account, attacking the Intelligence Service of Montenegro as an alleged narco-branch, the President of Montenegro Mile Đukanović and the then President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, falsely stated that, allegedly, Fahrudin Radončić, as the Minister of Security of BiH, gives fake passports to individuals from one criminal clan.
The High Court in Podgorica, among other things, referred to the provisions of the Constitution of Montenegro, but also the European Convention, which guarantees the inviolability of the mental and physical integrity of man, his privacy and personal rights.
Medojević, in the absence of evidence for his untruths, did not want to appear before the Court several times, as expected, and the Court passed a final verdict elaborated on several pages – it was stated from the SBB Press Center.

Medojević, in the absence of evidence for his untruths, did not want to appear before the Court several times, as expected, and the Court passed a final verdict elaborated on several pages

Fahrudin Radončić and Nebojša Medojević

Pro-Russian politician Nebojša Medojević has to pay 1,000 euros for defamation of Fahrudin Radončić

FBiH Minister of Environment and Tourism Edita Đapo told FENA that amendments to the Law on Nature Protection have been proposed so that, among other things, calcareous tufa is recognized as a natural asset in order to preserve the natural values of the Federation of BiH.

<h2>Non-existence of the FBiH Institute for Nature Protection</h2>

The Federation of BiH has tufa habitats that are vulnerable and damaged by human activities, and, as she states, they need to be protected and restored.

- In all countries in the region, tufa and its barriers are a natural asset that is strictly protected. However, the protection of tufa is not recognized in the provisions of the existing Law on Nature Protection as a natural asset, and this shortcoming is recognized and adequately amended by the proposed amendments to the Law. Tufa is a natural treasure we need to protect. All countries in the region have protected tufa, only in our country it is extracted because it is a very good material for insulation and is used in construction - said Đapo.
She adds that another problem is the non-existence of the FBiH Institute for Nature Protection, a professional institution in the Federation of BiH, which is a systemic gap in the protection of natural values and environmental protection of the Federation of BiH.

<h2>The amendments should also improve inspections</h2>

The amendments stipulate that the term "Red Book" is not used in the Law, which is a recommendation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and that the degree of endangerment of species should be assessed by the Red Lists.

In the provisions of the existing Law on Nature Protection, it has been proposed to add new articles of the Law which more precisely regulate the work of the supervisory service in protected areas.
The amendments should also improve inspections.
The mentioned amendments to the Law on Nature Protection were adopted by the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH last week in the form of a draft. It is necessary for the House of Representatives to do the same, in order for the draft to be sent for public discussion, and then to draft a bill on amendments to the Law on Nature Protection.

In all countries in the region, tufa and its barriers are a natural asset that is strictly protected, sve emphasized

Đapo: Tufa is not recognized as natural asset in the Federation of BiH

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić has submitted a request to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for constitutional review of a number of provisions of the Constitution of the Federation of BiH and the Constitution of Republic of Srpska, the Office of the BiH Presidency member confirmed for FENA.

- The request asks the Constitutional Court of BiH to declare unconstitutional provisions that exclusively give constituent peoples the opportunity to declare everything they want as a vital interest within the House of Peoples of FBiH and the Council of Peoples of RS, and thus block all legislative procedures - it is pointed out.

Komšić's office stated that it is not ok that only the constituent peoples can be represented in the executive and judicial authorities, influence constitutional amendments, and thus constitutional reforms, decide when it comes to the organization of public authorities, and that only they decide on the system of public information. It is also not fair that only the constituent peoples can have the opportunity to declare every issue a vital national interest.
The office also states that this is a discriminatory way in which members of Others / minorities and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have no rights in this process.

The request seeks to establish that the provisions by which each decision / law must be adopted in both houses of parliament, the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples, and in the same text incompatible with the principle of democracy, the obligation to apply the principles of international law, the prohibition of discrimination and the protection of human rights in general, which are an integral part of the Constitution of BiH as its Annex I.

BiH Presidency member warns that such a system is unsustainable and leads to further divisions in society, and makes BiH a state in which there is no complete democracy because there are "only constituent peoples, and all others are in a subordinate position."
- Deputies to the House of Representatives are elected by citizens in free elections, while delegates to the House of Peoples or the Council of Peoples are appointed by political parties within a political agreement and these upper houses are striking at a fundamental democracy because they do not represent the legitimate will of the voters, which must be changed - said the Office of BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić.

Komšić warns that such a system is unsustainable and leads to further divisions in society

Komšić urges Constitutional Court that provisions on vital interest be declared unconstitutional

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, passed a Decision to terminate the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for entry of foreign nationals into Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus abolishing the previously adopted Covid restrictive measures for entry into BiH. 

The decision was made on the basis of data from the competent health institutions on the favorable epidemiological situation in BiH for a long time, and due to the fact that most countries in the region and the world abolished all measures for foreign nationals to enter their countries.
In this way, the earlier decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina and its amendments published in the "Official Gazette of BiH" ceases to be valid.
The session also passed a Decision on the termination of the Decision on Restricting the Movement and Stay of Foreign Nationals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, made to protect the health of citizens after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic caused by a coronavirus in March 2020.
By passing this decision, the measures prohibiting the movement and stay of foreign nationals outside the centers in which they are accommodated will cease to be applied, the Council of Ministers of BiH announced.

In this way, the earlier decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina and its amendments published in the "Official Gazette of BiH" ceases to be valid

The decision was made on the basis of data from the competent health institutions

BiH lifts Covid restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals

Adoption of the Budget Framework Document is a good thing, but it is not good that the proposal to ensure financing of the elections by a special decision, in accordance with the law, was rejected again, said the Deputy Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bisera Turković after today's session. 

According to her, the budget must and should be adopted in a regular democratic procedure.
- But the financing of the elections, at this moment, cannot wait. All deadlines have already been breached and we are entering the sphere of breaking the law if elections are not made possible. I am afraid that in this way things cannot function, and in fact the pressure and blackmail are increasing, and the whole state and citizens are being punished, all with the intention of achieving a political goal. It is clear to everyone that the basic democratic rights of citizens are being endangered, and the question is how long will the citizens tolerate this obstruction - says Turković.

ll deadlines have already been breached and we are entering the sphere of breaking the law if elections are not made possible, said Turković

Turković: Financing of the elections cannot wait

Representatives of European Union member states, the Western Balkans, and Turkiye met for their annual economic policy dialogue, the European Council said on Wednesday.

The meeting in Brussels was also attended by officials of the European Commission and European Central Bank, as well as representatives of the central banks of the Western Balkans and Turkiye, read a statement.
The dialogue aims to prepare the Western Balkans and Turkiye "for their future participation in the European Semester" the statement said.
The Western Balkans include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have caused public health, economic and social challenges in EU member states, the Western Balkans, and Turkiye, the statement said.
- Participants agreed that the economic policy dialogue is of high importance in view of a common interest to define appropriate policy responses to the recent adverse shocks - it said, adding that the dialogue will continue next year.​​​​​​​

Dialogue aims to prepare Western Balkans, Turkiye for 'future participation in European Semester,' says European Council

The meeting in Brussels was also attended by officials of the European Commission and European Central Bank

EU, Turkiye, Western Balkans hold annual economic policy dialogue

High Representative Christian Schmidt said today that he is ready to meet with Davor Dragičević's legal representative. 

- I want to emphasize that I understand that Davor Dragičević, as a father, wants to clarify the circumstances of his son's death. That is the least that a parent deserves in such a situation - said Schmidt.
He added that OHR representatives had already been in contact with Dragičević, and that, as he told him in a direct conversation yesterday, he would monitor the development of the situation in that case, the OHR said.

I want to emphasize that I understand that Davor Dragičević, as a father, wants to clarify the circumstances of his son's death, said Schmidt

Schmidt: I am ready to meet with Davor Dragičević's legal representative

BiH is a country where NATO has done many important things, stopped the war and established peace, and worked on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. NATO is the guarantor of Dayton, BiH Presidency Chairman Sefik Dzaferovic said at today's press conference in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

- The meeting was constructive. BiH is an aspirant for EU membership. We submitted the Action Plan in 2009 - Džaferović reminded.

However, he noted that there are political forces in BiH that challenge the country's path to EU and NATO integration.

- I am convinced that NATO will continue to protect the peace, which is especially important due to the possible spillover of the crisis from Ukraine. There is Russian influence and open threats from the Russian side in BiH, and that is what the Russian ambassador is doing - said Džaferović.
The Chairman of the Presidency asked that at the summit in Madrid, strong support be given to NATO's path to BiH and to strengthen the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo.

He also thanked for the support of the BiH Armed Forces and for improving cooperation.

- International institutions are crucial and all parties need to stop sharing policies - said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg also expressed support for the EUFOR/Althea mission in BiH.
- Dialogue and cooperation are very important for BiH and it is very important to establish this type of support for maintaining peace - Stoltenberg said.

However, he noted that there are political forces in BiH that challenge the country's path to EU and NATO integration

Džaferović: NATO is guarantor of Dayton Peace Agreement

The Vice President of the Alliance for a Better Future of BiH, Admir Čavka, said that the basic problem in BiH is not ethnonationalism but corruption. He said that BiH is the most corrupt country in the Balkans and third in Europe, and that the corruption is the biggest reason for young people to leave and the biggest obstacle for Euro-Atlantic integrations.
- According to the latest Eurostat report, BiH is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Only Albania is behind us. All these are the consequences of bad policies, bad leaders, bad statesmen who brought all the citizens of the state of BiH to this desperate situation - said Čavka.
Therefore, he adds, it is very important that the opposition finally acts compactly, that is, united. Only a united opposition can offer solutions to many problems in BiH, that is, it can solve the catastrophic situation.
- It is time that those who are responsible for the catastrophic situation in the country finally take responsibility for it. The economic and demographic collapse of the state is certain and incompetent politicians do not stop these trends. It is important to include in solving these problems politicians who do not just want constant conflicts with everyone, politicians who will be responsible for their work and will report to everyone in the country, not just to foreigners - pointed out Čavka.
We need leaders who will establish a functioning government in BiH that will fight corruption, that will attract investments and create conditions for young people. Those who stop BiH, says Čavka, are doing it to fill their own pockets.
- Our friends from the USA, together with Europe, are still determined to help BiH achieve reforms on the road to the EU and NATO membership. The countries of the former Yugoslavia are now among the four allies in NATO, while the two countries are members of the EU. Among the countries of the Western Balkans, they share the strategic goal of deeper integration with the West as aspirants to EU membership or are members of the EU. BiH must not allow itself to become a black hole in the region - concluded Čavka.

According to the latest Eurostat report, BiH is one of the poorest countries in Europe

Čavka: It is time to deal with the causes, not the consequences

Regarding the threats of criminal charges by Adis Arapović made against SBB Main Board member Anis Krivić on Face TV and false claims of Arapović in the context of his wife, the Press Center of the Alliance for a Better Future of BiH (SBB BiH) issued the following statement:
It is known to the public that Ms. Adisa Omerbegović-Arapović was appointed to three supervisory and management boards, and that Adis Arapović was caught lying, as evidenced by documents of the FBiH Government:- By the Decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH V. No. 823/2019 of 27 June 2019, Adisa Omerbegović-Arapović was appointed Acting Member of the Supervisory Board of the Tobacco Factory d.d. Mostar.

- By the Decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH V. No. 1051/2020 of 23 July 2020, Adisa Omerbegović-Arapović was appointed a member of the Management Board of the Financial and Information Agency of the Federation of BiH.

- By the Decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH V. No. 266/2021 of 4 February 2021, Adisa Omerbegović-Arapović was appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of the Development Bank of the Federation of BiH.

Therefore, Ms. Arapović held three very important positions in the Management and Supervisory Boards at the same time and earned at least 4,000 KM per month, which is a criminal offense, given that Article 252, paragraph 2 of the Companies Act explicitly stated that "the chairman or member of the supervisory or board of directors of a company with state capital or institution may not simultaneously be the chairman or member of the supervisory or board of directors of another company or institution".

In that sense, a criminal report threatening Krivić will be given to a married couple of dubious moral values. Political swingers obviously think they can intimidate someone and, worse, harang those who have publicly told them that they have abducted SBB's compensatory mandate at the Federation level because they failed due to insufficient personal votes, the SBB said in a statement.&nbsp;

Political swingers obviously think they can intimidate someone and, worse, harang those who have publicly told them that they have abducted SBB's compensatory mandate at the Federation level

Adis Arapović and Adisa Omerbegović-Arapović: A married couple of dubious moral values

Married couple Arapović: Facts unmask them, they failed to become the new Bakir and Sebija in SBB

Germany decided to remove former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s office and staff on Thursday following growing pressure from media and pro-Ukrainian politicians.

The parliament’s budgetary committee agreed on new rules for state privileges of former chancellors, Green Party lawmaker Sven Kindler said on Twitter.
Former chancellors will be given an office and staff only if they have continuing obligations after the end of their term, according to the new rules.
Kindler said as Schroeder does not have ongoing obligations, he will no longer have an office.
Schroeder has come under heavy criticism after Russia’s military operations in Ukraine because of his close ties with Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Social Democrat served as chancellor from 1998 to 2005.

Controversial move comes after criticism of Schroeder for close ties to Russia, Putin

Germany takes away state privileges of ex-chancellor Schroeder

The new coalition government in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus secured a vote of confidence on Wednesday from the country's parliament.

With one abstaining, lawmakers voted 29-20 in favor of the coalition, made up of the National Unity Party (UBP), Democratic Party (DP), and Rebirth Party (YDP).
The opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and People's Party (HP) voted against the newly formed government.
Prime Minister Unal Ustel addressed parliament after the vote.&nbsp;The government was approved last week by President Ersin Tatar.The country's previous premier, Faiz Sucuoglu, had resigned along with his Cabinet on April 30.
Leading in snap elections held on Jan. 23, the UBP secured over 39.5% of the vote, with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) ranking second with over 32%.
The UBP currently has 24 of the parliament's 50 seats, whereas its coalition partners, the DP and YDP, have three and two seats, respectively.

Lawmakers voted 29-20 in favor of coalition government made up of National Unity Party, Democratic Party, Rebirth Party

The government was approved last week by President Ersin Tatar

New coalition government in Northern Cyprus receives vote of confidence

Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Čović convened an emergency session of the House of Peoples for Monday, May 23rd, to discuss the request of five delegates from the Bosniak People's caucus for convening an emergency session of the House.

The Bosniak delegates in the House of Peoples of the State Parliament submitted a request to convene an emergency session of the House for which they proposed only one item on the agenda - Securing the funds to finance the General Elections to be held on October 2 this year.

The Bosniak delegates in the House of Peoples of the State Parliament submitted a request to convene an emergency session

Picure taken at one of the previous sessions

Kavalec: Reports of electoral fraud must be fully investigated and prosecuted

Bachelet to BiH politicians: Forget divisions, focus on human rights

Moroccan monarch contracts coronavirus

Pro-Russian politician Nebojša Medojević has to pay 1,000 euros for defamation of Fahrudin Radončić

Đapo: Tufa is not recognized as natural asset in the Federation of BiH

Komšić urges Constitutional Court that provisions on vital interest be declared unconstitutional

BiH lifts Covid restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals

Turković: Financing of the elections cannot wait

EU, Turkiye, Western Balkans hold annual economic policy dialogue

Schmidt: I am ready to meet with Davor Dragičević's legal representative

Džaferović: NATO is guarantor of Dayton Peace Agreement

Čavka: It is time to deal with the causes, not the consequences

Married couple Arapović: Facts unmask them, they failed to become the new Bakir and Sebija in SBB

Germany takes away state privileges of ex-chancellor Schroeder

New coalition government in Northern Cyprus receives vote of confidence

HoP of BiH PA to hold an emergency session on May 23rd with regards to the elections funding

News

Kavalec: Reports of electoral fraud must be fully investigated and prosecuted

Bachelet to BiH politicians: Forget divisions, focus on human rights

Moroccan monarch contracts coronavirus

Pro-Russian politician Nebojša Medojević has to pay 1,000 euros for defamation of Fahrudin Radončić

Đapo: Tufa is not recognized as natural asset in the Federation of BiH

Komšić urges Constitutional Court that provisions on vital interest be declared unconstitutional

BiH lifts Covid restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals

Turković: Financing of the elections cannot wait

EU, Turkiye, Western Balkans hold annual economic policy dialogue

Schmidt: I am ready to meet with Davor Dragičević's legal representative

Džaferović: NATO is guarantor of Dayton Peace Agreement

Čavka: It is time to deal with the causes, not the consequences

Married couple Arapović: Facts unmask them, they failed to become the new Bakir and Sebija in SBB

Germany takes away state privileges of ex-chancellor Schroeder

New coalition government in Northern Cyprus receives vote of confidence

HoP of BiH PA to hold an emergency session on May 23rd with regards to the elections funding