Members of the Collegia of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina talked today with the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Maria Schmid, who is on a working visit to B&H, about the current situation in B&H.

The meeting was attended by the Speaker and Vice-Speakers of the House of Representatives of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly Denis Zvizdić, Nebojša Radmanović and Borjana Krišto, as well as the Deputy Speakers of the House of Peoples of the Parliament of B&H Nikola Špirić and Bakir Izetbegović.

Thanking the members of the leadership of both houses of the PAB&H for the long-term excellent cooperation that state institutions, especially the PAB&H, achieved with the OSCE Mission to B&H, Schmid expressed concern over the current political crisis in B&H and the non-functioning of state institutions.

The senior OSCE official stressed the need for state institutions to start functioning at full capacity and advocated avoiding the rhetoric of divisions and secessionism, which she said were a huge obstacle to investment and reform on B&H's European path.

Schmid appealed to the highest officials of the PAB&H to establish a constructive dialogue in BiH on all open issues, and especially emphasized the issue of electoral reform and the adoption of amendments to the B&H Election Law that would eliminate sources of discrimination in the electoral process and resolve technical issues that would preserve the integrity and ensure greater transparency of the electoral process.

In this regard, Schmid offered all the necessary support and assistance of the OSCE Mission, as well as partner international organizations working to promote democracy and electoral processes throughout Europe and the world.

Members of the leadership of both houses of the PABiH presented their views on the current situation in B&H and possible directions for resolving the political crisis and open issues.

They stressed the complexity of the political situation, the need to preserve peace, establish dialogue and build trust, as well as the need for the European Union to show a clear intention to expand to the Western Balkans and accelerate the European integration process for all countries in the region.

At the meeting, which was attended by the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Kathleen Kavalec, members of the collegium of both houses of the PAB&H expressed gratitude to the OSCE Mission for support and implemented projects in the field of rule of law, anti-corruption, institution-building and areas of improving the electoral and educational process in B&H.

As announced, the OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will inform all 57 OSCE participating States about the results of the visit to B&H.