YouSaid · the spoken record

Inzko

lines on the record: 398
first: 2009-05-28
most recent: 2019-11-05
sittings or episodes: 22
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I want to call attention to that issue now, while there is still time for the parties in Parliament to address the problem before the elections in October 2018. The parties must do whatever is necessary to ensure that the elections can take place next year and that the results are implemented without undue delays. In addition to the possible political stalemate in the Federation that I have just described, we have also seen continued actions and statements from the representatives of Republika Srpska, questioning the future of the country and challenging the authority of State-level institutions, including the decisions of the State's highest courts.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8089 (2017) · source
“The Foreign Ministers of the European Union described the situation accurately last month when they expressed "regret that a divisive rhetoric rooted in the past and an early electoral agenda have slowed down the pace of reform and affected the political climate". In addition to the current political stalemate, I want to highlight the risk of a deeper political crisis arising next year due to disagreement on the rules regulating the indirect election of delegates to one ofthe Houses of Parliament in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If the Federation's House of Parliament is not formed following the next elections, it will most likely prevent the formation of the Federation's Government, as well as one chamber of the State-level Parliament.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8089 (2017) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken some steps to implement the EU reform agenda and continues to work on the questionnaire of the European Commission. In addition, the country signed, in September in Trieste, a treaty establishing a transport community with the EU and five other Western Balkan countries, which will eventually open the door to infrastructure developments. There were also some positive developments in terms of regional relations, such as the official visit to Sarajevo in September of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vueie. There were also important visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina made by Croatian officials. But the overall picture is one in which reforms have slowed down considerably.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8089 (2017) · source
“The country is today at a crucial moment in its history, as leaders of all ethnic affiliations aspire to join the European Union (EU) and are working towards fulfilling the requirements necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be granted EU candidate status. Despite those promising strides, Bosnia and Herzegovina still requires the attention of the international community. Looking at the past six months, many ofthe key political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina have continued to hold maximalist positions on the concrete challenges facing the country. Those political actors have been unwilling, in most cases, to search for the compromises needed to adopt the necessary reforms. Of course, there have been positive counterexamples to that negative trend.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8089 (2017) · source
“Mr. Inzko: More than 25 years have passed since Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the United Nations in 1992, and more than two decades have elapsed since the tragic conflict came to an end in 1995. In many ways, the country has made remarkable progress since then: the State institutions provided for in annex 4 of the Peace Agreement - the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina - were established; the three armies that fought each other were unified into one; a modern and efficient tax collection system was established; and the country adopted a flag, a national anthem, common passports and very stable currency. Those are just some of the achievements.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8089 (2017) · source
“In addition we must be firm in upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while providing a framework of stability and respect for the Peace Agreement. In those things, our commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina and its wonderful and talented people remains unwavering.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Despite the progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in the past two years in its pursuit of EU candidate-country status, the country still faces fundamental challenges. As we enter the third decade of peace implementation, it cannot be assumed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a glide path to a peaceful, viable State that is irreversibly on course towards European integration. I thank the international community for their continued attention and commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is necessary, but insufficient to deliver the changes needed to bring Bosnians and Herzegovinians greater prosperity, stability and membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions. Only the leaders and institutions can do that. But we can - and in my view we must - continue to offer institutional support and a vision based on integration and functionality.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“For that reason, I am firmly convinced that there is still a need to maintain the EU military force on the ground with an executive military mandate, and I fully support its extension in November, when it is reviewed by the Security Council. The European Union Force is arelatively inexpensive but necessary investment in peace and stability in the Balkans. In my View, it provides an essential baseline of physical and psychological security that supports the EU, my Office and other international organizations in our pursuit of our common goal of sustainable peace and prosperity for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people. Recent scenes witnessed in the Parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia remind us of how quickly an incident can escalate in the Balkan countries.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Six months ago (see S/PV.7803) I described two parallel trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina - positive advancement in Euro-Atlantic integration and a negative tendency to flout the rule of law and focus on divisive backward-looking issues. With the continued support of the international community, the elected representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina can make progress and ensure that the first trend becomes the dominant one, but they will need to refocus their attention. In the meantime, the international community should retain all the instruments at hand. We need to be mindful of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex political and security environment where negative scenarios can quickly endanger the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress achieved after Dayton.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“That will require compromise on all sides and willingness to resolve issues pragmatically. Finally, it is simply unfathomable that, more than seven years after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the current electoral system discriminates against individuals that do not belong to one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's three constituent peoples, a considerable number of citizens are still denied the basic right to run for public office on the basis of ethnicity. The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina must correct the discrimination identified in the Sejdic- Finci case and in related cases as a priority.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Keeping in mind that some 18 months remain before the elections, I would strongly encourage the current authorities to make the most of the forthcoming period and demonstrate to voters that they are able to look past divisive issues and deliver meaningful reforms to improve the economic situation in the entities and throughout the country. Foremost on this list should be the economic reforms demanded by the country's international creditors, as well as EU-related issues, in order to open the early possibility of future EU candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I also expect the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, foremost the parties represented in the State Parliament, to finally resolve the legislative vacuum that has prevented citizens in Mostar from electing local representatives since 2012.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“They have stressed that we are all human beings and that, with their common festivities, they wish to demonstrate their mutual respect and desire for reconciliation. The students said that this is the latest and most realistic message out of Srebrenica, They have stressed unity, love and a common future. This is, of course, a good message. Looking ahead, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have its next general election in the autumn of 2018. With the difficult period surrounding the International Court of Justice crisis and the celebration of Republika Srpska Day over, political discussions in Bosnia and Herzegovina will now most likely focus on amendments to the national election law. Thus far, no consensus has been reached on this issue, which has the potential to create a new political stalemate in the country.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“This reaffirms to me that we, as an international community, can have an impact when we are ready to send a strong message to authorities and leaders who openly reject the rule of law and reopen the wounds of the past that they are leading themselves and their constituencies into isolation. In sharp contrast to divisive rhetoric are the efforts of high-school students in the historic city of Jajce, who, with their determination and perseverance, prevented the partition of their high school based on ethnic segregation, as planned by some political parties. Equally encouraging is today's news from Srebrenica, where Bosniaks and Serbs, Muslims and Orthodox students, are celebrating together their graduation from high school.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Corruption is a serious problem, and continued challenges to state-level institutions, including the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, contribute to the further weakening of the rule of law. Finally, during the past six months, the frequency and intensity of the Republika Srpska President's public remarks advocating for secession have lessened, although the independent status of Republika Srspka remains part of his party's official platform, and only this week he publically expressed his certainty that such an independence referendum will eventually take place. The lessening of such rhetoric follows the imposition of financial and travel sanctions against the Republika Srpska President by the United States.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Increasingly, the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina appear unable to act even in their own self-interest in a win-win situation, for instance in addressing the commitments made under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The continued failure to meet the IMF prior actions for the completion of the first quarterly review will hold back significant international assistance to the country's fiscal stability and economic development. In that regard, I would like to express my praise and support for Francisco Parodi, IMF Resident Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the ongoing efforts of the IMF to encourage meaningful structural reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, the situation with regard to rule of law in the country continues to deteriorate.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“The second negative trend during the reporting period surrounded the activities of the Republika Srpska authorities to implement their unconstitutional referendum, including ostentatious celebrations of the 9 January holiday, with the participation of some Serb members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina armed forces. In addition, during the reporting period, some Croat politicians intensified calls for the federalization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was understood by some to imply the further ethnic division of the country into three to four federal units, one of which would have a Croat majority.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“The now former agent of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the International Court of Justice, Sakib Softie submitted the request for revision to the Court, which later proved to be even more controversial when it came to light that the Court had already notified him that a renomination of the agent by the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities would be needed. The situation was ultimately resolved when the Court made its decision on the non-admissibility of the request, but the overall dynamic whereby leading politicians focus disproportionately on ethnically divisive issues, while showing little urgency in addressing the need for real reforms, is a serious cause for concern.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“First and foremost was the political controversy between Bosniak political representatives and Serb political parties over whether Bosnia and Herzegovina should submit a request for revision of the International Court of Justice 2007 Judgment in the genocide case of Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro. This issue split Bosniak and Serb parties and officials within the state-level coalition to an extent not seen for many years, delaying progress. Two different legal interpretations on whether the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency needed to renew the mandate of the Bosnian agent to the Court before submitting such a request proved to be irreconcilable, increasing tensions within the Presidency.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“This is one of the requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to participate in the NATO membership action plan. On the regional level, bilateral cooperation and overall reconciliation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have continued to improve, in large part due to the committed engagement of Serbian Prime Minister and soon to be President Aleksandar Vucie, and also through the efforts of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Council ofMinisters Chair Denis Zvizdic'. Good cooperation between Sarajevo and Belgrade, and also between Sarajevo and Zagreb, has manifested itself through joint Government sessions and through the visit of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovie to Mostar. Despite all these positive developments, Bosnia and Herzegovina has also seen some significant challenges over the past six months.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Iwould also like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the EU, under the capable leadership of its Special Representative Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, towards assisting the Bosnian authorities in achieving their aspirations to integration with the Union. Equally significant are the efforts ofEnlargement Commissioner Hahn and of High Representative Federica Mogherini, who has invited the Balkan leaders to an important regional meeting in Brussels next week. Equally encouraging was the consensus and forward-looking pragmatism demonstrated during the reporting period by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency in adopting the so-called defence review of military forces last November - an issue which had been outstanding for quite some time.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“When we speak of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we should also keep in mind what has happened over the past six months. I must say that Bosnia and Herzegovina has maintained its commitment to making progress along the path of Euro-Atlantic integration, while also continuing to face internal challenges to its sustainable stability and advancement. On the positive side, the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities formally received the European Union (EU) questionnaire in December, and the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU took place that same month. I wholeheartedly welcomed both developments and have consistently called upon the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities at all levels to maintain their focus on the EU agenda.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“I wish to use this occasion to congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina wholeheartedly, and I am very glad that - as predicted 25 years ago - Bosnia and Herzegovina has made a significant contribution to the work of the Organization, most recently with its successful tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, as well as - and I stress this - with its peacekeeping forces worldwide. As this is my first opportunity to do so, I would also like to take a moment to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ambassador Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin, who had such a dramatic impact on the work of the Council over many years. He was also involved in the talks on the former Yugoslavia as Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Peter Hohenfellner, as President of the Security Council, on 20 May 1992 (see S/PV.3079) proposed that the Council adopt a decision recommending to the General Assembly that Bosnia and Herzegovina be admitted to the United Nations. At the same meeting, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 755 (1992), endorsing that recommendation. Upon that historic recommendation, Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted under General Assembly resolution 46/237, adopted without a vote, 25 years ago, on 22 May 1992, as a Member of the United Nations.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“It is a privilege to be here today to briefthe Security Council on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in which the international community's commitment and unity remains crucial to achieving our shared goal, which is none other than sustainable peace and security in the Balkans. (spoke in English) These are special days for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it will celebrate on 22 May the twenty-fifth anniversary of its admission as a full-fledged State Member of the United Nations, along with Croatia and Slovenia. But these days are also special for my home country, Austria, as it was presiding the Security Council in the month of May 1992, exactly 25 years ago. The Ambassador of Austria at that time, Mr.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Instead, they will lead themselves into isolation. The leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina - with the help and guidance of the international community - must recommit to making Bosnia and Herzegovina a peaceful, stable, functional and multi-ethnic country that is fully and irreversibly integrated into European structures.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“With this referendum, I believe that we as the international community, need to ask ourselves how long these two dynamics can be sustained before the second overwhelms the first. Or to put it another way, can we accept that some of the country's leaders work for European Union integration and the internal disintegration of the country at the same time? Can we accept that some speak about European values but at the same time glorify war criminals and thus genocide? Moving forward, I believe that the answer for us as an international community is to send a strong message to those authorities and leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina who openly reject the rule of law and seek to reopen the wounds of the past that they will not lead their constituencies to prosperity or integration with Euro-Atlantic structures.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“The first is one of positive steps taken by the Government in Bosnia and Herzegovina towards reforms aimed at EU integration - which I wholeheartedly support - culminating in the truly significant fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina has now taken a decisive step towards candidacy status with the European Union. This is a truly historic act that is seen only once in a lifetime. This positive trend cannot be denied, and I believe that it is the duty of all of us gathered here today to fully embrace it. The second trend, however, is the tendency of some political actors to return to the divisive and destructive agendas of the past and, in the case of the Republika Srpska referendum, to assert that neither the Dayton Peace Agreement nor the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina can limit their actions.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“In Mostar, citizens were again unable to participate in elections due to the failure of political parties to agree on needed changes to the election law. The fact that the citizens of Mostar have not elected local representatives since 2008 is a stain on democracy and another demonstration of how the rule of law continues to deteriorate. Compounding these political difficulties, some prominent Croat leaders more persistently advocated for internal territorial changes during the reporting period, calling for federalization or the creation of a third entity, which did little to help the overall political environment. As I mentioned earlier, we as the international community need to take an honest look at two trends developing in parallel in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“They do not belong to it any longer. They are on the wrong side of history. On 2 October, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted in the country's sixth local elections since the war. Unfortunately, parties that focused on polarizing rhetoric and ethnic division generally saw the greatest gains at the ballot box. While the conduct of elections was largely peaceful, electoral irregularities and unrest in the southern town of Stolac resulted in a suspension of the vote, which will need to be repeated as soon as possible. In Srebrenica, a place of genocide in 1995, as confirmed by two United Nations tribunals, legal challenges still dominate the media. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the mayor of Srebrenica be a mayor working in the interests of all citizens of the town.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“This was the move by the Republika Srpska National Assembly and its speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovie to decorate a number of convicted war criminals, including Radovan Karadzic', who was sentenced by a United Nations tribunal in the first instance to 40 years' imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. This deeply offended the survivors of ethnic cleansing and many others. This act of officially decorating and glorifying war criminals who have been sentenced by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia is unprecedented in modern and civilized history. For me, those who have initiated the decoration of those internationally convicted war criminals, and who are thereby glorifying genocide, are barbarians and outside the orbit of civilized society.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“In their public statements during the reporting period, the Republika Srpska President and other officials of his party clearly linked the referendum with possible future secession, describing it as the first in a series, to possibly include referendums against the State institutions or NATO, on the status of the Republika Srpska, and on independence. Would we tolerate similar moves for secession in our own countries? However, in recent weeks we have witnessed another staggering development in the Republika Srpska.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“For example, the President told media that he would also order Republika Srpska institutions not to follow a final decision of another institution, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a case related to the ownership of military property. Similarly, the President publicly rejected a summons to give a statement to the State Prosecutor regarding the referendum. In addition to being a fundamental challenge to the State's sovereignty, the constitutional order and the rule of law, the September referendum should be seen in the context of the long-standing policy of the ruling party in the Republika Srpska, and its President in particular, to deny the authority of the common State institutions and to advocate openly for the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“For this reason, I consider the referendum of 25 September to be a grave violation of the Peace Agreement and the rule of law. It was held in contravention of decisions of the Court, including a direct order suspending the referendum. The positive diplomatic role played by neighbouring Serbia and Croatia during the crisis is worth noting. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vueic' declined to support the referendum - he did so twice, in public - while Prime Minister designate of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic' condemned it outright. With this unprecedented step, the authorities of Republika Srpska established that they do not consider themselves bound by Constitutional Court decisions with which they do not agree, effectively opting out of the country's judicial system.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“While arguments over the census soured the political environment, tensions increased significantly, first with the decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in July to hold an entity referendum, in defiance of an earlier decision of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court, and then with the actual holding of the referendum in September, in direct contravention of a second decision suspending the referendum until the Court could decide on disputes concerning its constitutionality. The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also annex 4 of the Peace Agreement, states explicitly that decisions of the Constitutional Court, as in our own countries, are final and binding, and that the entities are bound to comply with the decisions of the State authorities.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the EU, and not even a candidate yet, but it has taken a decision about its future. It has taken a decision about its direction. This is wholeheartedly supported by a large majority of the population. Anotherpositive developmenttook place in] une with the publishing of the first post-war census, an essential tool for socioeconomic planning.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Mr. Inzko: In my remarks today, I want to talk about two trends that are developing in parallel in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one positive and one quite negative. To begin with, the open and helping hand extended to Bosnia and Herzegovina by the European Union (EU) has led to further progress, with the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and a domestic EU Coordination Mechanism finally agreed. State and entity-level authorities have also continued to make certain progress on economic reforms. Following these steps, on 20 September the EU General Affairs Council invited the European Commission to submit an opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for EU membership, which is a truly momentous development.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“That will be an event of broader significance for reconciliation and tolerance in the region and beyond, and a huge number of honorary guests are expected from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Turkey and elsewhere. It will be a very special moment not only for Banja Luka but for humankind as a whole. On that positive note, I would like to thank the Security Council for its attention and continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“I would like to conclude today with some positive news, which offer encouragement in our efforts to ensure sustainable stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also serve to highlight the challenges. The first is a small, even trivial, example, but one of broader symbolic significance. Just a few days ago, several local associations agreed to create a single karate association for the whole country. But even that small step required 20 years of efforts towards reaching that goal. The second piece of news is of great significance. The day after tomorrow, the splendid Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka, demolished in the war along with 15 other mosques in the city, will be reopened.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“Given the complex environment that continues to prevail in the country, the presence of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an executive mandate remains of vital importance, thereby enabling my Office and others in the international community to fulfil our respective mandates, as well as reassuring citizens from all ethnic groups throughout the country of a safe and secure environment. I very much hope that in six months' time I will be able to report to the members of the Council a marked improvement based on the delivery of concrete results and a situation where there is full respect for the Peace Agreement. That is the surest way forward for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“For that to happen, political leaders will need to stop linking issues into ever-more complex and out-of-reach packages and put the needs of citizens first. The year 2016 can be one of progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration, economic growth and job creation, but only if the country pulls together and works as one. Questioning and challenging the fundamentals of the Peace Agreement - which is also the Constitution - is not a formula for success.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“Let us therefore together issue a challenge to the authorities to deliver on the following five points: first, publication of the results of the 2013 census; secondly, a final agreement on the EU coordination mechanism; thirdly, the full implementation of decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the rulings on the Mostar elections, State property and the 9 January Day in the Republika Srpska; fourthly, measurable progress on fiscal and economic reforms, including meeting the outstanding requirements set by the International Monetary Fund for a new arrangement; and, lastly, real progress on implementing the outstanding requirements for the closure of the OHR.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“In my previous report to the Council, and again today, I described the opportunity provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders by the European Union and how critical it was for them to demonstrate that they were ready and able to deliver on the reform agendas they had set for themselves, while also fully respecting the Peace Agreement. That opportunity must now be embraced with both hands. What that means in practice is an acceleration of concrete results. When I next report to the Council, in six months" time, I sincerely hope that the authorities will have undertaken that challenge with greater urgency.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“The continued policy by representatives of the ruling party in the Republika Srpska, in particular its President, to advocate for the secession of that entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina troubles me deeply and raises fundamental questions about the commitment of some officials and political parties to fully respect the Peace Agreement. In that context, I remain concerned that that party's official platform includes a threat to organize an independence referendum in 2018 if certain conditions are not met. I take this opportunity to say once again that the Peace Agreement does not grant the entities the right to secede, and any attempt to change the Peace Agreement requires the agreement of all the parties.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“Other direct challenges to the Peace Agreement during the reporting period included the conclusion reached by the Republika Srpska Government in December that the entity's institutions would cease cooperating with the State Investigation and Protection Agency, a State-level police agency, over a legally authorized raid on a police station in Republika Srpska in relation to war crimes investigations. While the Republika Srpska authorities eventually resumed operational cooperation under a signed agreement, that apparent interference of politics into police work is unacceptable, in particular at a time when agencies need to be strengthening their cooperation.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“An additional issue of concern is the participation of some citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in foreign conflicts, some of whom have returned and could pose a threat to the future stability of the country. Additional incidents continue to occur that threaten to undermine inter-ethnic relations. For example, processions organized in March in Srebrenica and other municipalities by supporters of Vojislav Seselj to celebrate his first-instance verdict of not guilty. This raised fear among Bosniak returnees who are still trying to come to terms with the crimes of the past.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“I also take this opportunity to reject his thesis that fairness in transitional justice requires the prosecution of equal numbers of war criminals from different ethnic groups. We must seek justice for every innocent individual victim and his or her parents and relatives, but applying a principle of ethnic parity to mass graves or war criminals would do a disservice to victims and survivors of all nationalities. The passing of time brings new challenges to all of us, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is no different. A terrorism-inspired act carried out by a single attacker in Sarajevo on 18 November resulted in the death of two soldiers of the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The attack once again highlighted the challenges facing the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against terrorism.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“Sharply divergent reactions to the verdict of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the case of wartime Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadzie highlighted the need for greater efforts towards reconciliation. Iwas deeply shocked by the high-profile opening by the current Republika Srpska President of a dormitory named after Karadzie only two days before his first- instance conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity In our countries, it would be unthinkable to glorify individuals convicted of committing mass atrocities. With this act, the Republika Srpska President sent an insidious message to those affected by the horror and trauma of wartime ethnic cleansing, and put himself outside the standards and morality of the civilized world.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“In the broader region, a decision was taken a few days ago in Zagreb by the Presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey to reinvigorate the process of trilateral meetings among those three countries. I take this opportunity to encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina and its neighbours to significantly increase the level of State-to-State cooperation, to the benefit of all sides. Despite these positive developments, the forward momentum they created was diminished, regrettably, by a number of parallel developments during the reporting period. The readiness ofsome political actors to question and challenge the Peace Agreement, including new attempts to undermine the sovereignty and authority of the State and its institutions, continues to cast a shadow over positive efforts to advance economic and social reforms.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“If Republika Srpska authorities are as keen to see the closure of my Office and my departure as they claim, then they need to deliver the results needed to enable the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board to take that decision. Another largely positive factor has been the regional situation. Serbian Prime Minister Vueie's high profile commitment of notable donor funds to Srebrenica did much to foster reconciliation. By the way, he has personally visited Srebrenica twice. The very important firstjoint session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Serbia in November was a very welcome and positive step forward. A similar joint session with the Croatian Government has been announced, and is also a positive development.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“In this context, I need to stress that the Peace Agreement explicitly states that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are final and binding. In addition to efforts made to meet European Union requirements, I would like to commend the efforts of the authorities to register military properties to the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a condition for the activation of a NATO membership action plan and one of the prerequisites set by my Steering Board for the closure ofthe Office of the High Representative (OHR). I call on Republika Srpska authorities to enable the registration of such properties located on the territory of that entity, as the Federation has been doing.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source