The High Representative and European Union Special Representative Valentin Inzko met in Sarajevo today with the President of BiH Court Meddžida Kreso and Chief BiH Prosecutor Milorad Barašin. Issues discussed at today’s meeting were the functioning of the BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office and extension of mandate of international judges and prosecutors.

HR/EUSR Inzko reminded that the international community is unanimous in its support to the work of judicial authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially when it comes to processing serious war crimes, because that is one of the issues that bear special importance for reconciliation. Talking about the extension of mandate for international judges and prosecutors, High Representative Inzko noted that it was the President of the BiH Court Kreso and BiH’s Chief Prosecutor Barašin, as representatives of the highest legal instances in the country, who highlighted the necessity of their stay. 

“I hope that the BiH Parliament will adopt the right decision on 16 September, and that the institutions of BiH will use this opportunity to resolve this issue independently. If they do not use this opportunity and do not extend the mandate of international judges and prosecutors, BiH’s efforts aimed at building and entrenching the rule of law will be seriously jeopardised.” – said the High Representative/EU Special Representative Valentin Inzko.

HR/EUSR Inzko emphasised that the resolution of this issue will provide an opportunity for the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to demonstrate to citizens and to the European Union whether the fight against organised crime is merely a dead letter for them, or rather a serious priority.