Kyriakos Hadjiyianni and Brian Aggeler meeting with civil society at OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina HQ, Sarajevo, 2 February 2024SARAJEVO, 3 February 2024 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Vice-President Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), has concluded a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Hadjiyianni held a series of meetings in the capital with various stakeholders, including parliamentarians, government officials, representatives from the international community, and civil society organizations (CSOs). The discussions focused on both domestic and regional developments.
Special Representative Hadjiyianni met with Ambassador Johann Sattler, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH; officials from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees; the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Collegium of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH; the Delegation of BiH to the OSCE PA; representatives of the Presidency of BiH; local CSOs; and High Representative Christian Schmidt.
Special Representative Hadjiyianni was joined in meetings by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler.
“The high-level meetings have offered me the opportunity to experience first-hand challenges and prospects for the region, which I appreciate as I prepare my report this July,” Hadjiyianni said. “I called on all stakeholders and interlocutors to engage in meaningful dialogue to overcome the challenges in the best interest of BiH. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to facilitate political processes on issues of strategic importance for BiH.”
Following a visit to the OSCE Mission to BiH headquarters, Hadjiyianni praised the mission’s crucial work for the people and institutions of BiH. “The OSCE Mission to BiH is doing very important work for the people in BiH and its institutions, and I commend their efforts,” he said.
Brian Aggeler and Kyriakos Hadjiyianni meeting with BiH Delegation to OSCE PA, 1 Feb. 2024In meetings, Special Representative Hadjiyianni spoke about the latest domestic developments and engaged in broader consultations on the Western Balkans. Key topics of discussion included the functionality of state institutions, the reform of the Law on Elections, regional co-operation, reconciliation, rehabilitation, and the European integration process of the Western Balkans. All parties acknowledged that the European Union integration process remains a primary goal for BiH and the most effective incentive to advance the reform process.
Hadjiyianni emphasized the importance of the OSCE’s presence in the region, particularly through its field operations. The excellent co-operation between the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and domestic institutions, along with the ongoing support provided through its programmes and projects, was underscored in these meetings. The Special Representative highlighted the importance of a co-operative and forward-looking approach to strengthen regional co-operation and advance democratic processes, noting that joint efforts of the OSCE, EU, the Office of the High Representative, and domestic institutions are yielding positive results.
Hadjiyianni’s visit to Sarajevo from 31 January to 2 February marked his first on-the-ground activity as the Special Representative on South East Europe. His previous meeting with the Delegations of the Western Balkan countries to the OSCE PA in Yerevan last November set the stage for further engagements.
Looking ahead, the Special Representative plans to organize an Inter-Parliamentary Forum with South East Europe Delegations to the OSCE PA in one of the capitals of the region. Additionally, he intends to visit other capitals in the Western Balkans, further solidifying his commitment to regional parliamentary diplomacy and co-operation.
For more on the work of the Special Representative on South East Europe, please click here.
Photos of the visit are available for public use on Flickr.
