The Dayton Peace Agreement is supported by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by the country’s neighbours and by the International Community and any attempt to undermine Dayton will fail, High Representative Valentin Inzko said today during a visit to Montenegro.
The High Representative was speaking after a meeting in Podgorica with Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic. During his one-day visit, he also held talks with Prime Minister Igor Luksic, Foreign Minister Milan Roćen and other senior government officials.
The High Representative welcomed Montenegro’s consistent and constructive support for the Dayton settlement and for the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stressed that under the International Community’s new configuration in Bosnia and Herzegovina the OHR will continue to ensure full respect for and full implementation of the DPA.
He said the International Community’s strategy is not simply “to keep a lid on problems”. Rather, it “has committed enormous diplomatic and economic resources in order to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina succeeds and that its citizens prosper.”
The High Representative emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina can, if things go right, be “a constructive and dynamic partner” for its neighbours as the region moves towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, and he said the International Community will remain “fully and confidently engaged” in the country.
Noting that Montenegro has implemented reforms that have had “a positive and immediate impact” on the lives of citizens, he said Bosnia and Herzegovina can learn from this example.
“I think the first lesson is that focusing on potential agreement rather than on disagreement is the key to getting past political roadblocks.”