Public debate “The Upgrade of the Bosnian Constitution Would Enable Faster European Integration” was held in Mostar, in the Ero Hotel, on Saturday, 25 October, 2008.
The moderator of the debate Mr Vehid Sehic, in his welcome speech emphasised that the basic aim of the public discussions is to hear the opinion of the Bosnian citizens, who are the participants of the public discussions, about the constitutional changes. He also added that the public discussions will result in some kind of conclusions, which will be submitted to the state authorities, as the proposal for the constitutional changes, in order to inform them about the opinion of the citizens.
The Forum of Tuzla Citizens and the task force, consisted of the eminent public persons gathered around the FTC, want to contribute to: prohibition of any kind of discrimination in BiH; affirmation of principles of solidarity as the foundation of a society’s development and affirmation and strengthening of units of the local self-government in the future constitutional changes.
Prof. Bozo Zepic from the Law School of Mostar University, as one of the speakers, had three possible ways for changing of the BiH Constitution:
1. having a completely new constitution and its passing in Parliament, which he sees as the most difficult option;
2. establishing of the new constituent assembly, which would pass new constitution and
3. holding of the international conference on BiH
As the best solution for BiH, Prof. Zepic sees the establishment of the state organised in three republics of the constituent people, which would be multinational and should not have to be territorially compact. Any other option such as cantonisation or regionalisation of the state in current political situation is absolutely unsustainable, having in mind the fact that one nation already has its republic.
The attitude of Prof. Zepic was mostly supported by some other participants of the public discussion such as Mr Martin Raguz (HDZ 1990) and Mr Zvonko Jurisic (HSP). They believe that the federal organisation of BiH is some kind of the middle road for BiH and that only in this concept it is possible to find principal solution that the state gets all the instruments needed, but also to have a correct European decentralisation of BiH state.
Prof. Nurko Pobric, PhD, professor of the constitutional law at the Law School of Mostar University, did not agree with this option.
The second speaker, Prof. Zdravko Grebo, PhD from the Law school of Sarajevo University, does not see awareness or will for any kind of constitutional change in current political situation in BiH, therefore the only solution he finds in entrance of BiH into the European Union or NATO. That would impose the rules that should be respected by the political elites. A part of the participants agreed with Prof. Grebo’s attitude, mostly those who are not representatives of the political parties.
Twenty seven participants participated in the work of the public discussion.
We would like to emphasise that the professors from both Universities in Mostar, experts in constitutional law, as well as actors of the political scene, representatives of the political parties responded to our invitation, but that they were ready to publicly present their opinion related to this topic, but also to hear the opinion of the invited citizens. Contradictory opinions on the essence of the constitutional changes in BiH could be heard at the public discussion in Mostar, but they were discussed in very civilised and democratic way.
The media reported very correctly and impartially. The discussion topic attracted my media representatives.
List of participants:
1. Vehid Sehic, Forum of Tuzla Citizens, moderator
2. Prof. Bozo Zepic, The Law School of Mostar University, speaker
3. Prof. Zdravko Grebo, The Law School of Sarajevo University, speaker
4. Martin Raguz, HDZ 1990
5. Jerko I. Lijanovic, NS Radom za boljitak
6. Ivica Cavar, CCI
7. Pejo Gasparevic, HINA
8. Prof. Miodrag Zivanovic, Philosophy Faculty in Banja Luka
9. Sahbaz Dzihanovic, Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors Sarajevo, FBiH
10. Prof. Slavo Kukic, the Faculty of Economics of Mostar University
11. Slobodan Popovic, SDP BiH, Banja Luka
12. Prof. Svetlana Cenic, Banja Luka
13. Nikola Sekulovic, league for Protection of Private Property and Human Rights, Trebinje
14. Mira Jugovic Misic, Forum of Tuzla Citizens
15. Almas Medjedovic, Stranka za BiH
16. Dzemal Šunje, CUPIDO Mostar
17. Amra Jasarbegovic, the Law school of the University “Dzemal Bijedic” in Mostar
18. Prof. Nurko Pobric, the Law school of the University “Dzemal Bijedic” in Mostar
19. Zeljko Asic, HSP Djapic Jurisic
20. Zvonko Jurisic, HSP Djapic Jurisic
21. Ermin Mustacevic, Forum of Tuzla Citizens
22. Sanja Bjelica, Dnevni list
23. Cvita Kusic, FENA
24. Meliha Smajkic, Dnevni avaz
25. Dalibor Vidacak, HTV Mostar
26. Tina Jelin, Radio Free Evropa
27. Zlatko Habujlic, RTN
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