The public discussion in Prijedor was prepared and implemented in co-operation with partner organisation “Don” (Democracy – organisation – progress) from Prijedor.
It was held on November 13, 2009 at 11.00 a.m. in the Prijedor Hotel.
The speakers at the public discussion were Mr Vehid Sehic, the FTC president and Mr Damir Miljevic from Banja Luka, who holds MA degree in economics.
Mrs Murisa Maric, the executive director of the partner organisation, welcomed the participants and expressed the gratitude that such an important topic is discussed in Prijedor.
The total of 25 participants participated in the public discussion, mostly councillors from The Assembly of the Prijedor Municipality, representatives of various political parties, as well as several famous citizens and intellectuals from Prijedor.

Mr Sehic, in his introductory speech, informed participants about the basic aims and activities of the project and its up-to-date results. He also presented the basic directions that the Working Group believes should be the part of changes and additions to the Bosnian Constitution, such as harmonisation of the constitutional articles with the European Convention on Human Rights; transfer of jurisdiction to the state level in order that BiH can become an equal partner in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration; introduction of social component in the Bosnian Constitution; defining of the local self-government in the Bosnian Constitution and, of course, creation of a cheaper state. He also emphasised that the constitutional changes can be and must be done using step-by-step methodology and only with the consensus of the ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The second speaker, Mr Damir Miljevic, informed the participants about the importance of the constitutional changes, the importance of entrance of Bosnia and Herzegovina into Euro-Atlantic integration from the aspect of economy. He also pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have an alternative since it is too small and too poor country to stay out of these processes. Through his speech, Mr Miljevic pointed out from the economic aspect the importance of the constitutional changes in BiH and getting the status of the candidate country in order that the country progresses in economic, but also in any other way.
The excellent introductory speeches inspired very live three-hour discussion where all the participants presented their opinion and attitude (the opinions of the young people are highly important): representatives of various political options such as right-wing radical presented by Mr Milorad Zenic, the executive secretary of SDS and left-wing presented by Mr Ramo Solesovic, the councillor of SDP in Prijedor.
Besides different views of the process of the constitutional changes, all participants of the public discussion agreed that constitutional changes must be reached using step-by-step methodology and with the consensus of political parties, i.e. ethnic groups in BiH.
Only the representative of Stranka za BiH, Mr Mirsad Duratovic, the representative in the National Assembly of RS, was of the opinion and pointed out that it is also the opinion of his party, that the Constitution of BiH cannot be changed step-by-step, but that the new Constitution should be brought, which would create more efficient and more functional state of BIh. The rest of the participants did not agree with such maximal attitude.
Moreover, the participants expressed the gratitude for letting them express their political attitudes, but also the attitudes of their political parties regarding constitutional changes in BiH.
Of course, it should be emphasised that although the participants are the people who are not very familiar with the constitutional domain, the engagement of Mr Miljevic and presentation of the importance of the constitutional changes from the aspect of economy led that all the participants, representatives of different political options, reached the conclusion that the constitutional changes should be done as soon as possible, step-by-step, with the consensus of the political parties and ethnic groups in BiH in order to avoid leaving out of BiH from the process of Euro-Atlantic integration.
Due to very good introductory speeches and therefore discussion and opinions that were quite contradictory, but finally led to the unique conclusion, FTC finds this public discussion very successful. It should also be emphasised that the discussion among the participants about constitutional changes with or without the assistance of the international community was continued during the lunch in a very pleasant atmosphere.
We find it also important to emphasise the fact that Prijedor is a city where true return happened, meaning that returnees really live and work in Prijedor and that representatives of their political options took active part in the public discussion.

The public discussion, as well as the press conference, was very well covered by media. The media that covered the public discussion were: Nezavisne novine, BH Radio 1, Free Radio Prijedor, correspondence of K3, BN Television and NTV 101, Fokus, daily newspapers.

The booklet “The Upgrade of the Bosnian Constitution Would Enable Faster European Integration” as well as the bulletins from all previously held public discussions were distributed to the participants as training materials.