Berset clear: Accept judgments of the European Court of Human Rights

(Patria) - Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset stated today in Sarajevo after a meeting with the members of the BiH Presidency that membership in that organization implies a strong commitment to European values and a decisive commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the acceptance of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Chairperson of the BiH Presidency emphasized that the visit of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe sends a strong political signal of support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the implementation of Council of Europe standards.

He recalled that last week he held an important meeting with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Petra Bayr, and addressed the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He emphasized that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has once again confirmed its strong support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Chairperson of the BiH Presidency expressed gratitude for the continuous support of the Council of Europe to Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains strongly committed to the fundamental values of the Council of Europe: human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Bećirović emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina must abolish systemic discrimination, as also established in the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights from Strasbourg.

All these judgments established the existence of discrimination based on ethnic affiliation or place of residence. The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been ordered to make the necessary amendments to its constitution, from which all elements of discrimination must be removed. The goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a liberal democracy, in which there will be no inequality, and all citizens of our country will be equal before the law.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Council of Europe remains a key component of the overall European integration process. It was stated that the new Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2026–2029 will further enhance this cooperation.