11/21/2013 OHR

An opportunity to move BiH forward

On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, High Representative Valentin Inzko made the following statement:

Today we mark the 18th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the terrible war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This coming of age of the Peace Agreement must be an opportunity for all to reflect on the full potential that this country and its citizens can achieve.

Outside the political sphere, there are so many examples of talented people of good will from all different nationalities working together and succeeding in BiH: in the areas of business, culture, and sport. One obvious example is the recent success of the country’s football team in advancing to the World Cup, and there are many, many more examples.

What is currently missing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a political class focused on the reforms and good governance needed to allow talented and ambitious people to reach their full potential for success. We only need to look at the neighboring countries to see what positive changes can come about for the entire society when leaders are ready to seriously embrace the processes of Euro-Atlantic integration.
The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve lasting stability, effective governance and economic opportunity. The year 2014 must not be lost – and with hard work and commitment there is still time for the institutions and ruling parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to turn things around. In this, they have the full support of the international community.”