2008 Press Releases

Joint Statement by Charles English, United States Ambassador to BiH, Karel Vosskühler, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to BiH and Lars-Erik Wingren, Ambassador of Sweden to BiH

March 18, 2008

We are deeply concerned that the Republika Srpska government has proposed eliminating its citizens’ right to directly elect their mayors.  We strongly support the right of the people of Republika Srpska to maintain that right. 

The people of Republika Srpska enthusiastically and overwhelmingly support continuing their right to chose mayors directly.  In public opinion polling conducted by “Partner Marketing Consulting Agency” of Banja Luka over the weekend, 90% of Republika Srpska citizens expressed their preference to keep direct election of mayors. 

This initiative of the RS government is a dramatic change in how democracy works in the Republika Srpska and time should be allowed for public debate.  Dealing with this issue by urgent procedure is an effort to frustrate the democratic will of the people of the Republika Srpska.

Since mayors have been directly elected, citizen confidence in municipal government and their mayors has increased.  Republika Srpska municipalities have made tremendous improvements in providing better services over the last several years.  These achievements are now jeopardized.

This is about democracy.  Municipal government is the level of government closest to the citizens and has the most direct impact on their lives.  We believe citizens have the right to make their voices heard by directly electing their mayors.  We urge the Republika Srpska National Assembly to let them keep that right.