High Representative Valentin Inzko met today in Sarajevo with Nobuo Kishi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and discussed the current political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“With the local elections behind us, I expect elected leaders to focus on delivering the reforms that will create jobs, facilitate investment and, most of all, tackle corruption,” the High Representative said. “As of February, Bosnia and Herzegovina has embarked on an active path towards EU membership. This is a road full of opportunities for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and should be pursued in the most vigorous way possible.”
The High Representative also briefed the Japanese State Minister on the recent referendum held in the Republika Srpska. “At the same time that the country is taking positive steps towards the European Union, some leaders in this country have continued to flout the rule of law and the Peace Agreement. The international community retains the necessary instruments to uphold the Dayton Agreement. All options remain on the table.”
High Representative Inzko thanked Minister Kishi for the role and commitment of Japan towards post-war reconstruction and development of BiH, amounting to some 1 billion KM, making Japan one of the largest bilateral donors to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He noted that Japan is also one of the largest bilateral donors to the OHR.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Government of Japan for its generosity in putting financial and political resources, including in the UN Security Council, into the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” High Representative Inzko said.