Speeches

I have the honour of representing the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lord Paddy Ashdown. The High Representative is personally committed to the success of the Stability Pact and will do everything in his power to promote its initiatives in BiH and to ensure that BiH is a constructive and active player in the region. However, since [...]

There are sound reasons to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the medium-term impact of a well-implemented investment cycle can be profound. Prosperity in this country is not a mirage; it is not a distant dream; it is achievable within five to ten years. When I use the word prosperity, I mean exactly that - not sustainability, not subsistence, b [...]

I want to tell you this evening what I believe we can achieve together because you have a right to know what to expect from me. I am your servant, quite as much as I am the servant of the international community.

It’s great to be back. And a great honour to be taking over from my distinguished predecessor, Wolfgang Petritsch. He has left us with a foundation to build on and, with your help, I intend to build on it. My wife Jane and I are really looking forward to making our home here for the next few years, and I am looking forward to working with you [...]

It is a short farewell address and I hope you will forgive me if I switch to the local language. But please be assured that my words are not only addressed to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to you - for all the extraordinary hard work you have put in during my time here. I know you will give all your support to Lord Paddy Ashdown. [...]

The High Representative, during his almost three years in Bosnia and Herzegovina has repeatedly stressed the preeminence of education for the country's recovery. A well managed school and university system that uses effective modern teaching methods to educate a new generation is not a luxury, it's a necessity as BiH competes with its neighbours to [...]

Let me first express my thanks to all of you for your participation at this conference, which I personally consider of utmost importance in our continued efforts to strengthen the state and the democracy of BiH. I welcome you on behalf of the OHR and in particular on behalf of the OHR’s Anti-Fraud Department, which has organised today’s conference. [...]

I want to thank my host, the National Democratic Institute, and the participants of this year’s School for the Development of Democratic Leadership for inviting me to speak this evening. NDI has asked me to touch upon three important themes this evening

First, I would like to thank the organisers, Wilton Park, who have, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom and the Communications Regulatory Agency here in BiH, made this event possible. The subject is important and its consideration over the next two days by experts [...]

Let me first thank the sponsors of this event, the United Nations and the United Nations development Programme, for the invitation to this important meeting. Sitting right next to the Women of Podrinje, I use this opportunity to express my wholehearted support to the Srebrenica Regional Recovery Programme presented today.