Addressing the UN Security Council today, High Representative Valentin Inzko said that the International Community must continue to support those in Bosnia and Herzegovina who want to move forward, and resist those who seek to reopen past wounds.
The High Representative noted that while other countries in the region are moving forward to a promising future within Euro-Atlantic institutions, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders have continued to fail the citizens of the country and to fall short of the very limited expectations of the international community. As a result, the country has fallen further behind its neighbours.
“I know that they can do much better,” the High Representative said, “and I call on them from this distinguished forum to show courage.”
High Representative Inzko expressed regret that he was obliged to inform the Security-Council that in the six-month reporting period, challenges to the rule of law, challenges to the sovereignty and integrity of the state, and chronic political in-fighting had made it impossible for the authorities to tackle in an effective way the material hardship experienced by BiH citizens as a result of the economic crisis.
However, he reiterated his continuing hope that the negative political trend of recent years can be brought to an end and that in six months time it will again be possible to brief the Security Council on progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After his address to the Security Council the High Representative will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, whom he will thank for his continued interest in the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UN’s indispensable support for the fulfilment of the High Representative’s mandate.
The High Representative will tomorrow travel to Washington for meetings at the US State Department.
A transcript of the High Representative’s address to the UN Security Council is available here.