PRESS CONFERENCE

Sarajevo, March 27, 2007

Press Release

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Sven Alkalaj and Council of Europe Director General of Political Affairs Jean Louis Laurens, who leads the Monitoring Team of the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, held a press conference during the visit of Mr. Jean Louis Laurens to Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 27, 2007.

Minister Alkalaj informed that this was 13th visit of the Monitoring Team with a view to provide insight in fulfillment of post-accession obligations that BIH assumed upon accession in membership of the Council of Europe. The Minister said that they exchanged opinions on reform process in BIH and the results of previous meetings have been summarized.

Director Laurens said that the Monitoring Team have had many meetings both at state and entity levels during the visit to our country, but expressed his regret for not being able to meet the Government of Federation of BIH. Nevertheless, he expressed a hope that the held meetings will suffice for creation of a qualitative and constructive report for future cooperation between CoE and BIH.

Director Laurens said that the CoE delegation did not come only to monitor but also to expand cooperation with BIH. In this context, during the visit, the Academy for Political Excellence solemnly began with its activity. The Academy is a project of the Council of Europe for BIH, realized in cooperation with the Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies of the University of Sarajevo, within CoE Program Network of Schools of Political Studies.