Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 14 November 2011.

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Photo of Bob Stewart Bob Stewart Conservative, Beckenham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board.

Photo of David Lidington David Lidington The Minister for Europe

The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board provides essential guidance and support to the High Representative in the exercise of his mandate under the Dayton Peace Agreement. It also performs regular assessments of Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards the completion of the ‘5+2' conditions agreed by the PIC for the Office of the High Representative's (OHR) closure. It continues to meet at ambassadorial level in Sarajevo every week, and formally at foreign ministry senior official level every four months. By bringing together the most important international supporters of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the PIC Steering Board plays a vital role in supporting the terms of the Peace Agreement.

The British Government continues to support the work of the High Representative and to take an active role in the Steering Board. It considers completion of the conditions set by the PIC as the right indicators for when Bosnia and Herzegovina can function without the OHR. At its most recent meeting, on 6 July 2011, the Steering Board concluded that this conditionality had not been met and expressed its concern at the lack of progress made in this regard.

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