The third public discussion was held on November 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., in Tuzla, in the Bosnian Cultural Centre.

The moderator of the tribune was Mr Vehid Sehic, FTC President, and the speaker was Prof. Slavo Kukic from the University of Mostar.

Representatives of all political parties that work in Tuzla Canton were invited to the public tribune, especially those ones that participate in the Assembly of Tuzla Canton and have their representatives in Federal and State Parliament. Representatives of different political parties that have their representatives at different levels of the authority responded to our invitation, except representatives of SDA.

In his welcome speech, Mr Sehic presented the basic aims and principles that we, as actors of the civil society, insist that should be the essence of the constitutional reforms in BiH, emphasising social component of the Constitution and functional and non-expensive state.

Prof. Kukic spoke about the importance of the constitutional reforms in BiH. He reminded participants about the previous Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasised his opinion that not only constitutional reforms are important for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also building and reforms of Bosnian society. Prof. Kukic believes that reconstruction of “Bosnian neighbourhood” as the lifestyle is maybe more important to him as a sociologist than formal and legal reform of the Constitution. Related to the upgrade of the Bosnian Constitution, he believes that it should include following principles:
• building of mechanisms for protection and implementation of civil and collective rights;
• greater and more concrete dedication to implementation of collective rights;
• concrete reform of the state structure and creation of functional, more efficient and less expensive structure and administration.
Prof. Kukic’s speech and project aims presented by Mr Sehic encouraged participants to present their personal attitudes, but also the attitudes of their political parties related to the constitutional reforms. These opinions, attitudes and proposals were different, ranging from if the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina was valid constitution, since it was never ratified by Parliament to concrete proposals and suggestions for constitutional changes.

All participants, no matter to which political option they belong, expressed the opinion that the implementation of the constitutional reform is necessary in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also supported the proposal of Mr Mirnes Ajanovic from the Bosnian Party that the reformed Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in its first amendment, should have prohibition of secession of any part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is well-known attitude of the leaders of the political parties from Federation BiH due to very often mentioning of referendum by Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska.

No matter the difference in opinions and attitudes in which direction and how constitutional reforms in BiH should be implemented, it can be concluded that the issue of the constitutional reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still primary and necessary step for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly after signing of SAA. However, the constitutional reforms is Bosnia and Herzegovina is first of all political problem and only then legal problem.

At the public tribune in Tuzla, FTC distributed the brochure “The Upgrade of the Bosnian Constitution Would Enable Faster European Integration”, as well as the bulletins from the public tribunes held in Bihac and Mostar.

All invited journalists, representatives of media that work in Tuzla, responded to our invitation to cover the public tribune. They dedicated significant attention to this event in their information shows and articles in daily newspapers (Tuzlanski list, Oslobodjenje, Dnevni avaz).