Head of the OSCE Mission to B&H Kathleen Kavalec visited today the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC B&H) Halil Lagumdžija and Vice Presidents Biljana Simeunović and Sanela Gorušanović-Butigan to congratulate them on their takeover of these responsible positions in a difficult moment, but she emphasized that this time can be seen as a time of extraordinary opportunities in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina's movement towards the European Union.

She also stressed that it is very important that the new leadership of the institution is a positive example of leadership that shows that it can do its job independently and efficiently.

Considering the priorities presented by President Lagumdžija and Vice Presidents Simeunović and Gorušanović-Butigan, Ambassador Kavalec pointed out that the HJPC B&H can count on support in order to realize the priorities and achieve the goals in its work.

Lagumdžija thanked for the support and cooperation so far from the OSCE Mission to B&H with the HJPC and with other judicial institutions.

He also stressed the intention to seek practical answers in the coming period to eliminate the weaknesses of the institution and the judicial system, as well as the desire to highlight positive examples in the functioning of the system through improved transparency. He especially emphasized the issue of public trust in the HJPC B&H and the judicial system, as well as the importance of the urgent adoption of amendments to the Law on the HJPC B&H.