Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a meeting point of faiths and traditions, has the potential to play a significant role in promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue in Europe, High Representative Valentin Inzko said in Vienna today, where he briefly met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a number of other senior political leaders as part of the 5th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. “Over the last few centuries, inter-ethnic cooperation has been known

The High Representative also held a bilateral meeting with the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn. Luxembourg recently began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Inzko informed his interlocutors that the forthcoming accession of Croatia to the European Union represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move ahead in the Euro-Atlantic integration process. “For the country to make tangible progress, political leaders need to compromise and focus on economic priorities and the rule of law. Anti-state initiatives must finally stop; they just distract attention from other more pressing needs, such as the creation of jobs”, the High Representative said.

The Global Forum is the highest-profile event of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. It brings together decision-makers, experts, and a variety of stakeholders in the field of intercultural and interreligious dialogue from all over the world.

Photo: HR Valentin Inzko and Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn