The BiH Council of Ministers today took a first step to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina will have the property that it needs in order to function more effectively.

“I am pleased that after many years this process has been launched. Now it is the responsibility of the political leadership of this country to ensure that all the necessary steps are completed as soon as possible. Bringing this to a successful completion is about demonstrating that the politicians of this country are ready to find common solutions and take difficult decisions for the benefit of all.” said High Representative and EU Special Representative Valentin Inzko today.

When it met last month the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council urged the Council of Ministers to take this step without delay.

This inventory initiated by this decision will serve as the basis for an intergovernmental agreement on state property. In parallel the State Property Commission now needs to complete a draft law on state property for adoption by BiH’s Parliament.

The acceptable and sustainable apportionment of State Property is one of five core objectives set by the Peace Implementation Council in February 2008 to be met by BiH authorities before the PIC can consider OHR’s transition to a reinforced EU mission.