Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Thank you very much, Madam President,

We thank Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Mr. Miroslav Jenča and we thank High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr. Christian Schmidt for their briefings.

We take note of the statement by Ms. Željka Cvijanović.  

Madam President,

Slovenia is a sincere friend and strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all of its peoples. We have stood by the country during the devastating war and years since then.

Slovenia ardently advocates for the EU perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we believe that its people deserve to live and prosper in the Union built on peace, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights.

Based on this conviction, we spared no effort in helping the initiation of the EU accession negotiations in March. Membership prospects are the guarantee for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s long-term stability, peace and development. Future membership represents a powerful motivation for reforms that will enable all ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the youth, to follow their dreams within their own country.

We were encouraged to hear from Madam Cvijanović that there is consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina about the EU accession of the country. This is a welcome indication that Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to join Europe as much as the EU wishes to integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Madam President,

Nearly three decades have passed since the end of the war. Peace would not have been achieved without the involvement of the international community, including this Council. The Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995 remains the cornerstone of peace and post-war institutional framework of the country.

The role of this Council is the maintenance of peace and security. We should avoid entering into situations with a reverse effect. De-legitimizing the presence of international community and perpetuating conflicting narratives exemplifies such a situation that we must avoid. 

The Council must be careful not to give platform to an alternative, politically biased narrative about the situation, which only deepens the divisions within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We better focus on upholding the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and supporting international instruments and mechanisms deriving from it. That also means full support for the work and the assessment of the High Representative, mandated by the Peace Agreement. That means support for decisions of the ICJ and ICTY as well as the Bosnia and Herzegovina courts.

We have no other option but to trust the assessment of EUFOR, an organization mandated by this Council with maintaining safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which describes the environment as safe.

At the same time, we must keep the focus on what is the most important for Bosnia and Herzegovina and that is its European future. We call on all leaders in the country to act in good faith and engage in constructive cooperation to bring the EU reforms forward. This is the only way to secure peace and long-term stability of the country. This is what all international stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in this Council must keep in focus as well.

Thank you.

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