Speeches

My address will be about half an hour long, after which I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I fear I have some rather tough things to say. If I offend by my bluntness, then please forgive me. I do not intend to show a lack of respect, either for you or for this very important institution. But I am a rather plain speaking man an [...]

May I start by saying how pleased I am to be able to participate in today’s event - for three reasons: First because what we are talking about is, in my view, the key priority for us over the coming months and years. Second because we are here to celebrate success. And third, because, whatever the success of the moment, I want to issue [...]

I am delighted to be here with my friend and colleague John Sylvester. If you want an example of close co-operation on the ground between the EU and NATO, then you need look no further than the relationship between this EU Special Representative and the Commander of SFOR – first John, and now his successor General Ward. John was an outstand [...]

This is my first report to the Security Council since I took over as High Representative in BiH at the end of May from my distinguished predecessor. I would like to set out for you this morning my impressions of my first few months, my priorities for my term of office, and what you can expect of us and what we would ask of you and the governmen [...]

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, You will, no doubt, have heard me talk before about the challenges that we face in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and about the things that we must, together, try to do. Some of you will have heard me talk about my priorities: First Justice. Then Jobs. Through Reform. Today I want to talk about the second [...]

When I took up my mandate here on the 27th May, I gave a speech marking the way ahead for BiH and the International Community in the months leading up to the October 5th elections. The purpose of this speech is to mark out the way ahead for our partnership in the next phase of our work. As on the 27th May, I speak not just for myself, not just [...]

I have just attended a meeting of the Steering Board of the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency. As all of you know, SERDA brings together the local authorities from across the Sarajevo region, on either side of the IEBL. It does this for a very simple reason - it makes economic sense. Economic sense creates jobs. SERDA is recreating lin [...]

I have not been to this beautiful site before. It is hard to reconcile the calm and the peace of this place with the tragedy that occurred here on that foggy morning five years ago. We are here to honour the memory of those twelve men and women who died building a better future for the people of this country.

May I begin by thanking you for the opportunity to address you today. I was sorry not to have been able to do so before the summer holidays, when my deputy, Ambassador Don Hays, came here and spoke on my behalf. But I promised to come here in person. So, here I am. I said when I arrived, I would like these sessions to become a regular feature [...]