NGO Representatives Presented 'Principles for BiH Constitutional Amendments' to Schmidt

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - High Representative Christian Schmidt met today with representatives of the Council of Bosniak Intellectuals (VKBI), the Croatian National Council (HNV), the Forum of BiH Parliamentarians, the Serb Civic Council – Movement for Equality (SGV-PR), and the Society for Endangered Peoples.

"Today's meeting with representatives of BiH civil society highlighted the invaluable contribution that this key democratic factor in society makes to advancing pluralism and diversity of ideas on how to face the dramatic challenges that Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing today," said the High Representative at the meeting.

The High Representative emphasized that there is no other ultimate goal than a sovereign, territorially integral, and steadfastly stable BiH that is fully capable of fulfilling its constitutional and legal obligations for the benefit of all its peoples and citizens. All segments of Bosnian-Herzegovinian society – institutions, political parties, non-governmental organizations, citizens – must contribute to this goal, he stressed.

High Representative Schmidt expressed gratitude for the opportunity today to explore possibilities for dialogue with civil society in BiH and to identify ways of cooperation in facing the challenges that must be resolved for the country to move forward. The interlocutors agreed to organize a new meeting, which would, among other things, discuss the principles for constitutional changes agreed upon by VKBI, HNV, the Forum of BiH Parliamentarians, SGV-PR, and the Society for Endangered Peoples," the OHR announced.