Meeting late yesterday afternoon with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon HR/EUSR Inzko highlighted recent positive developments that Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced in relation to its foreign policy. One key example is the country taking a seat in the UN Security Council, a huge achievement, but other examples include progress towards visa liberalisation with the EU, or the developing relationship with NATO. The HR/EUSR added that a much improved atmosphere in the Western Balkans creates an opportunity for all the countries in the region to make faster and more substantial progress – an opportunity that must not be squandered.
“At the same time, the language and logic of politics inside Bosnia and Herzegovina appears rather to have deteriorated,” he said, negatively impacting on the capacity of BiH leaders to find agreements on reforms which are key for the country’s European future.
In Washington today the HR/EUSR will have meetings with senior officials in the State department and in the Congress, in order to discuss the situation in BiH and prospects for the future.
The HR/EUSR will say that chronic political disagreement has occurred at a time when unemployment has continued to rise and living standards have continued to fall, and resulted in too few crucial reforms being delivered by the authorities.
The HR/EUSR will say that this year’s election could see a surge of young people voting and will provide an opportunity for the citizens to chose those programmes which will best reflect the country’s legitimate aspiration for a future in the EU.
The HR/EUSR will emphasise the urgent need to leverage the improved international standing which BiH Security Council membership reflects, into real political and economic dividends for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.