Today, at Slovenia’s initiative, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement marking the 30th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the Council’s first substantive presidential statement on Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2004, reaffirming its continued and united engagement. The statement, drafted and negotiated by Slovenia, sends a clear message: the Security Council’s unified support for a sovereign, stable, and multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a renewed commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and regional cooperation.

The Council reiterates its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and multiethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It recalls that the country comprises the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District, and underlines the importance of safeguarding the rights of Bosniacs, Croats, and Serbs as constituent peoples, as well as all other citizens.

Recognizing the lasting peace and stability achieved since the end of the war, the Council calls on political leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and consensus, refrain from divisive rhetoric, respect the rule of law, and fully implement the Dayton Peace Agreement. It stresses that reconciliation, trust among communities, and social cohesion remain vital for a resilient democratic state.

The Council highlights the importance of regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations, and welcomes efforts that advance dialogue, confidence-building, and economic cooperation in the Western Balkans.

It also welcomes the continued presence of Operation EUFOR Althea under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and encourages dialogue among the three constituent peoples (along with Others) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of international partners, on shared priorities to ensure the transition of the international presence, in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Thirty years after Dayton, the Council acknowledges the significant progress achieved by Bosnia and Herzegovina and reaffirms the shared goal of a stable, democratic, and sovereign state capable of assuming full responsibility of its legally elected representatives for its political and economic processes.

The Security Council remains united in its support for a peaceful, democratic, and multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina and expresses hope that this anniversary will serve as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue, deepen trust, and advance a stable, prosperous future for the country and the wider region.

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