YouSaid · the spoken record

Schwarz-Schilling

lines on the record: 67
first: 2006-04-18
most recent: 2007-05-16
sittings or episodes: 3
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 hope that more political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina will truly support him, because we have a great chance, an historic window of opportunity, to achieve our goal: facilitating the way forward towards the European Union and the Euro-Atlantic partnership. I thank Council members for their kind words and for all their help. I will continue to be of service to Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“So it is very moving experience for me to sit here today and to have had the opportunity to work in and serve that country, which has suffered so much, and to see the efforts of the international community to ensure that it has the best possible future. And we need to do that; it is not only a legal question, but a moral obligation. I wish all the best to my successor on this very difficult path. It is difficult because the problems are much deeper than in other areas, and they can be solved only if we come together with the local leadership. I am very much encouraged by the leadership of Prime Minister Spiric': his approach, his moral stance and what he has accomplished.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Mr. Schwarz-Schilling: I was impressed by the statements made by colleagues in the Council. I believe that there is a broad consensus about the way forward, the principle of ownership and the principle of transition to the European Union, but also about the tasks remaining for the international community in assisting and facilitating that process. I also wish to thank speakers for their kind words about my work. Finally, I want to make a personal comment. In my capacity as a member of the Deutsche Bundestag and Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, I made certain appeals to the Security Council. I tried very hard to draw attention to things that deserved to be seen and things to come in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“I have been engaged in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 15 years in various roles and it has been a particular honour to serve there as High Representative and European Union Special Representative. I shall continue to assist in whatever way I can. I fully intend to stay close to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country I have come to know and love so well. I will watch closely and share its journey as it travels on the challenging but promising path to a brighter future.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“The job is not yet done. There will be further hurdles and obstacles, but Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards Euro- Atlantic integration will be determined by its own achievements and by those alone. It is the Security Council's responsibility to ensure that it is not decided by outside factors. There are many challenges for the newly elected Bosnian Government. There will also be many challenges for my successor, Ambassador Lajcak of Slovakia, who was appointed by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board last week and to whom I will hand over my post in July. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Security Council for the support I have received during my mandate.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“It is time for the Bosnian leaders to step up to the plate. Of course, the international community must not waver from its commitment to assist. It must continue actively its policy of advising and guiding the Bosnian authorities to the point where the Office of the High Representative is no longer needed. And Europe, above all, must understand the real responsibility that comes with supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on its journey towards the European Union. Moreover, Europe must appreciate and respond to the complex and unique demands of assisting European integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There remain many challenges in this critical period when Bosnia and Herzegovina is trying to stand fully on its own two feet. The international community should not look away or get impatient at this point, even though its role is changing.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Of course, the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina need to take full ownership of any process to reform their own constitution. And Europe and the United States stand together as partners with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide advice on standards and share our experience and expertise with them. I hope that party leaders will agree to establish a process. I intend to start political talks and work to set that process in motion during my remaining time in office. In conclusion, the road to Europe must be unblocked. Police reform must be agreed upon so that the stabilization and association agreement can be signed and implemented. The remaining indictees must be urgently transferred to the Hague tribunal. Constitutional reform must be set on track. Transition must be completed.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Finally, I would like to emphasize one significant reform that remains without progress - one of the most difficult, yet one of the most important, and one that leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina urgently need to start: constitutional reform. It will not be resolved quickly, but it is my strong conviction that this reform is critical to ensuring that Bosnia and Herzegovina serves its citizens better and becomes an effective, functioning State capable of full membership in Euro- Atlantic institutions. I believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to establish a constitutional reform process within its own institutions that would provide the political parties, parliament and wider society with the forum for both substantive debate and technical preparations on the complex issues involved.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“To reach such a solution, my staff worked together with the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for several years. I would also like to commend the Council of Europe, the European Union Police Mission, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Kingdom presidency of the Security Council. I am confident that the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina will abide by their international obligations and carry out the provision of the Security Council presidential letter. It is my understanding that the Security Council expects the decision taken by the Bosnian Government last December to establish a national review commission to be annulled. The Office of the High Representative stands ready to assist with implementation.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Last December, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined other countries in the region to sign the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) to create a free trade area in South-eastern Europe. That economic and political achievement should promote economic development and contribute to stability. Just last week, the Regional Cooperation Council, now known as the Stability Pact, decided to have its seat in Sarajevo, placing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the heart of regional integration. There has been movement on other long-standing issues as well. In particular, I would like to thank the Security Council for its constructive role in issuing a presidential letter on 30 April on the issue of police officers denied certification by the United Nations International Police Task Force.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Despite the blockages, there is a positive difference between where Bosnia and Herzegovina stood when I took over on 31 January 2006 and where it stands now. There have been steps forward. Bosnia and Herzegovina held elections last October in line with international democratic standards. Though government formation was a long and partly frustrating process, it was carried out by Bosnian politicians without international intervention. Such are the painful learning experiences that accompany the lessons of ownership. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the NATO Partnership for Peace programme last December. That recognized key achievements in the field of defence reform and marked a significant step forward on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration. In regional development, Bosnia and Herzegovina has the opportunity to play a central role.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Economic reforms have not been completed on paper or in practice. Necessary laws for local and foreign investment are not yet in place. More effective efforts are needed to implement reforms in public administration and public broadcasting, and education reform requires serious engagement by the Bosnian authorities, supported by the international community. This lies at the heart of the country's regeneration and prospects for the future. I would like to remind the Council of the simple words that stand at the entrance to the Kabul museum: "A nation is alive if its culture is alive". Those words were recently praised by a director from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, who recommended that the far-reaching implications of these simple words should become the mantra of all aspiring nation-builders.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to act responsibly and constructively to improve the situation on the ground in the Srebrenica area. They can do this, as events last weekend showed. Constructive cooperation between the relevant authorities at all levels of government, with the international community on hand to facilitate, ensured that the families of victims were able to bury their loved ones in peace and dignity in Bratunac. That happened last Saturday. We were all happy about how it was done. But such constructive cooperation is needed on a wider scale across the country. It is high time that Bosnian leaders returned to discussing concrete action for all of their citizens, and across political, social and economic issues.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“But it is not about changing the constitutional and territorial order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A unilateral change of the Dayton Peace Agreement would pose grave risks to peace and stability. The Security Council should consider making that point very clear. The International Court of Justice verdict acknowledged that genocide occurred in Srebrenica. Srebrenica was a United Nations safe area. The United Nations had special responsibilities to the people of Srebrenica. I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Council to establish a United Nations Day of Srebrenica to commemorate the tragic events that occurred there in 1995 and to pay respects to the victims of genocide and their families.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“I have appointed an envoy, former United States Ambassador Clifford Bond, to play a coordinating role with local actors on the ground, political leaders and the international community. We have set up a high-level coordination mechanism between the relevant local authorities supported by the international community. Key recommendations are being developed to improve the situation in real terms. The Bosnian authorities must carry out their responsibilities and ensure that concrete measures are taken to improve conditions in the area. That is about justice and law enforcement institutions doing their work. It is also about the rights of returnees being upheld. And it is about economic livelihoods and decent social standards being restored to the region.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“I would also ask the Council to take note of the fact that no results have been forthcoming since 3 the International Court of Justice, another principal organ of the United Nations, issued its judgment over two months ago. I believe that the Security Council needs to consider very seriously how Serbia can be brought to implement the ICJ judgment. Again, this is a matter of stability in the region, and the Security Council must live up to its responsibilities in that regard. Radical rhetoric has poisoned the political environment, and the issue of Srebrenica has returned to the headlines. There has been ruthless political manipulation of the issues by politicians motivated by their own ambitions. That only distracts from the real issues that require concrete action.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Serbia was found guilty of not preventing genocide. Serbia should be active in supporting the International Criminal Tribunal in carrying out its mandate to prosecute those responsible for the genocide. That is more than a moral and ethical obligation; it has significant implications for the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. Against that background, and in my capacity as High Representative, I wrote to President Tadie of Serbia last month. I asked him to inform me of measures being taken. However, President Tadic did not write in response. I would ask the Security Council to remind all parties to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina to comply with their obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Party leaders came close to a compromise solution on police reform on two occasions, but a solid agreement was prevented by a lack of political will, by an unwillingness to compromise for the sake of the country as a whole and by a lack of vision to make the changes that will serve their citizens better and bring them closer to Europe. On the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, coordination has improved between relevant law enforcement agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the remaining fugitives, chiefly Mladic and Karadzic, remain at large. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment confirmed the essential obligations of the Republic of Serbia to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Let me be clear: Serbia has not delivered on that obligation.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“The EU has approved the text of a stabilization and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the agreement is ripe to be initialled. But political conditions must be met. Concrete progress is urgently needed on police reform and on full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. European Commissioner Rehn reminded Bosnian leaders again last week of the urgent need to overcome their differences and show real unity in order for the country to progress towards the European Union.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“After in-depth consultations with capitals and with the Bosnian authorities, I recommended to the Peace Implementation Council to continue the Office of the High Representative, based on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. The Council agreed, with the goal of closing the Office by 30 June 2008, with reviews in October 2007 and February 2008. The continuation of the Office of the High Representative is intended to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to take those final, but significant, steps from peace implementation to Euro-Atlantic integration as soon as possible. Progress can come 07-34383 soon if the politicians step up to the task. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a unique chance and an historic window of opportunity to move an important step closer to Europe. Its leaders must seize this moment.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“That was done in the context of positive developments and solid progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina towards joining the European Union (EU) and NATO. But nationalist and backward-looking rhetoric on all sides did not recede after the elections last autumn. Political tensions increased through continued confrontational attitudes by the leaders in both Republika Srpska and the Federation. Tensions continued to rise this year following reactions to the judgement of the International Court of Justice, which some politicians have sought to exploit. As my concerns for the political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina grew, I discussed the situation with members of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“The ongoing prominence of discussions about events of the recent past - about who is to blame and who are the victims - has created a hostile political environment. And, finally, the long and difficult process of forming a Government took many months. The result of all that is that political reforms have now been blocked in Bosnia and Herzegovina for over a year. That does not mean that the ownership path is wrong, but it is a warning we should not ignore: a warning that transition cannot be taken for granted, that the Bosnian authorities must increase efforts to live up to their responsibilities to govern their own country and that serious long-term international engagement must continue. Last June, the Peace Implementation Council took a decision in principle to close the Office of the High Representative in June 2007.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“Mr. Schwarz-Schilling: I first spoke to the Council a year ago, as Bosnia and Herzegovina was facing the challenges of transition: transition by the Bosnian authorities towards ownership, towards exercising the rights and responsibilities of a democracy and towards becoming a functioning European State. The international community was also facing the challenges of transition, namely, handing over the reins to the Bosnian Government - not doing their job for them when there were difficult decisions to make but standing close by to assist, advise and guide where needed. 07-34383 Ownership is a difficult learning process, as recent experience has shown. An election year that saw the resurgence of nationalist rhetoric and ideological arguments has proven that.”
2007-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5675 (2007) · source
“I thank the Council very much for the careful comments, especially from Finland, stating on behalf of the European Union the need for the mandate of the EU Special Representative to bring forward the whole situation of transition, and pointing out that it is not a matter of the departure of the Office of the High Representative but making more visible the European presence in the country, because that increases the belief and the trust in the integration of Euro-Atlantic institutions. It was very useful for me to learn from the comments of the Council, which I very much appreciate. I found that my report was not too diplomatic, as the Prime Minister meant that I would not say the things as they are. I think the answers of all have shown that they could understand very well what I meant, so I thank you very much for your comments.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I only hope that, after the formation of the Government and the negotiations of the coalitions, they see that this is one of the basic points, because there is growing nervousness among the population of the country that tells me that the Office of the High Representative should not be allowed to go as long as there is no other de-blocking institutions in our country. So we have to think and to see whether this is on track, and we have to make our final assessment with great attention to the whole atmosphere created by this situation. I just wish to thank the Council for the many ideas coming to me because of the statements I have heard.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“There, of course, we have the very difficult situation of how to combine the rules of democracy by majority rule on the one hand, with, on the other, the equality of three constituent peoples, who have a lot of veto opportunities under the Dayton constitution. How do we unblock the situation? It is very difficult to move towards a mechanism whereby vetoes and majority votes lead to a situation in which the decision-making of the State and the institutions of the State come together. And I must say that we should not blame only the politicians in that respect; we must also think about that very carefully, to see how to give the best advice in this regard.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Considerable attention and help from the international community will be necessary. This is particularly important, because we know that police reform is one of the basic preconditions for the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. I also think that some strong words need to be used to tell those people - those politicians - who are boycotting this what they are doing to the whole country. The signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement is particularly necessary to pave the way for the next gradual approach and the possibility of normalization presented by reforms. The same is true for constitutional reform.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I thank the Council for its understanding of the approach that I have taken, in the context of my mandate, to enable local politicians to exercise ownership, and to give them the chance really to exercise it in good time, before the Office of the High Representative closes. How will we assess the exercise if we have not provided that opportunity? I think it was good to see that, and also to get our own experience in that respect. I am very glad that it is also understood that some basic reforms are necessary for the gradual normalization of the country. I want to mention the question of educational reform, broadcasting reform and police reform - which is particularly important, because entity questions are already being raised in that respect - as well as constitutional reform.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Mr. Schwarz-Schilling: First, I would like to thank all delegations and nations represented around this table for their thorough advice and for having studied the real situation of the country. I was really surprised by the detailed knowledge shown here. It has given me the impression that close attention is being paid to everything going on in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I therefore thank you very much, because sometimes I have the feeling that increasingly the focus is on other areas, and that the real problems of the Balkans area - and perhaps specifically, now, of Bosnia and Herzegovina - are being neglected.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“That is a source of concern, as is the seeming inability of politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to resolve problems within existing constitutional structures in the absence of intrusive international involvement. There is also the spectre of the decision on the final status of Kosovo looming over the entire region. Even if, strictly speaking, there is no linkage between that decision and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has the potential to be destabilizing if the decision were to be delayed. The way forward is, nevertheless, clear. The politicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina have an opportunity to demonstrate that the transition can proceed on schedule by taking the initiative, enacting and implementing the many outstanding reforms and, with international support, working towards building a prosperous European democracy.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I am also happy to consider any proposal that the United Nations puts forward. However, legally and politically, I am unable to resolve this issue. The ball is squarely in the Council's court. I remain committed to the principle of ownership and hope to oversee that transition in line with the schedule I have described. I also recognize, however, the prudence of the Peace Implementation Council's decision to review and confirm its June decision to close the Office ofthe High Representative following a detailed and careful assessment early next year. The irresponsible rhetoric that marred the election campaign has helped generate feelings of insecurity among parts of the population.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“When I spoke to the Security Council in April, I drew attention to the plight of police officers decertified by the IPTF without the possibility of review or appeal. On that occasion, I said that we should not preach the principles of the rule of law, 06-60815 responsibility for reforms and ownership while at the same time contravening those principles in our own activities. Since then, the members of my staff have worked together with their colleagues in both the EU Police Mission and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to help establish the facts and develop the outlines of a review process. In addition, a team of experts has visited New York twice this year and briefed the Secretariat, the Core Drafting Group and EU missions. I intend to continue working on this issue together with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“As a key element of the next phase, the European Union is reinforcing its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a view to assisting the country on the road towards European integration by finalizing the Stabilization and Association Agreement and developing in particular the role of the EU Special Representative. In the process, many difficult issues, including in particular the rehabilitation of individuals removed from office by my predecessors, have to be resolved before the Office of the High Representative can be closed. That brings me to an issue that the United Nations failed to resolve before closing down its International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“The fact that war crimes suspects like Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic remain at liberty after so many years continues to impede the peace process, undermines faith in the rule of law and demonstrates an unwillingness to face up to the crimes of the past. The requirements for completing both peace implementation and EU integration are clear. Responsibility for both lies with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That brings us back to the issue of transition. It was in recognition of the progress that has been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the past 11 years that the decision of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board to close the Office of the High Representative and to develop the role of Europe was taken in June.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“The parties that agreed to those amendments to the Constitution have to date fulfilled their commitments. As a result, there remains an opportunity for the amendments to be put before the newly elected parliament. Indeed, the issue of constitutional reform will rise to the top of the political agenda as soon as coalitions and governments have been formed. The Council should also be aware that it is likely to remain there for a long time, as the first package is but the beginning of a longer-term process that both Europe and the United States are committed to supporting. Another issue that will not disappear is that of cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“It is, however, a reasonable first step towards more functional State structures better able to meet European standards. It also represents the level of compromise and progress that can be made at this time. This imperfect political reality of compromise to make progress is what ownership means. That is how a better future can be built gradually. There are no easier alternatives, and there are no perfect political solutions waiting around the corner. The politicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina must learn that such important issues can be dealt with only one step at a time, bringing all sides together within the process, identifying where compromises can be reached and where they cannot, and making the most of issues that can be taken forward rather than focusing on areas where progress cannot be made.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“After hundreds of hours of sitting together, discussing where compromises could be made and where consensus was not yet possible, they agreed a first package of constitutional amendments in March. Despite widespread support for that package and optimism that Bosnia and Herzegovina's politicians were ready to take that first step, the initiative failed - by just two votes - to obtain the required two-thirds majority in Parliament. That was a tough blow to those who dared to take a step in a difficult but vital direction. The setback was also subsequently exploited by opponents of the constitutional amendments, who chose to step out of what had been a constructive negotiating process. To be sure, the constitutional reform package is less than perfect.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Police restructuring and the other reforms are not small matters. They go to the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina's ability to develop and grow, to function effectively and to serve its citizens properly. Another area that goes to the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina's identity, past and future, is that of constitutional reform. The Dayton constitution was created in 1995 to end a war. It must evolve to meet the demand for a functional, fiscally sustainable State able to join Euro-Atlantic institutions and a democratic State accepted as legitimate by all who live in it. Party leaders on all sides came together regularly throughout 2005 and early 2006.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“However, failure to complete public broadcasting legislation and insufficient progress on a higher education law and on legislation essential to fiscal sustainability are clearly slowing Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards Europe. One of the key outstanding requirements for the Stabilization and Association Agreement is police restructuring. That is needed for Bosnia and Herzegovina to progress towards EU integration, and, above all, it is needed for the sake of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Police Restructuring Directorate has been working since January and is scheduled to deliver an implementation plan at the end of this month, based on 3 three principles drawn up by the European Commission. Securing political agreement on this plan will be a key test of the capacity of local institutions to assume ownership.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“There is, however, also a political side to the Agreement, and political reforms - which are a precondition for completing the stabilization and association process - have stalled. The necessary parallel process of implementation of the outstanding reforms by local politicians has not happened. In part, the reform process has stalled because of the inevitable need for a period of adaptation and adjustment to the concept of ownership and the ability to put it into practice. In part, moreover, it has stalled because of the elections that took place on I October. Those inevitably involved a period of campaigning and election rhetoric that moved away from the problem- solving spirit of compromise and cooperation needed to undertake sensible reforms to fulfil the requirements of Euro-Atlantic integration.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“For that to occur, the country's politicians have to take the necessary steps to reach European standards in main areas of the State and civil society. In that connection, in the negotiations with the European Commission on a Stabilization and Association Agreement, the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have started with high professionalism. The Bosnian negotiators excelled at negotiating the technical side of the Agreement - a promising sign of their capacity and willingness to do what is required over the next few years to complete EU integration. Allow me here to pay tribute to the role played by Prime Minister Adnan Terzie, who will address the Council as soon as I finish, and the lead negotiators, Igor Davidovic and Osman Topcagic.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“The European Union (EU) is offering the prospect of membership to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the Western Balkans, as it did so successfully with the eight Central European countries that joined in 2004, as well as Bulgaria and Romania, which will join next year. If there is one issue that the overwhelming majority of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina agree on, it is that their country's future lies in Europe. That is very much the case, even though political leaders in Republika Srpska have on occasion asserted that they were prepared to sacrifice Bosnia and Herzegovina's European future rather than make compromises on certain issues. That European perspective should therefore become the driving force 06-60815 for the country's recovery. The incentive to reform is the guarantee of future prosperity.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“We might need more time and more patience in the process. Yet in these testing times, the international community must hold its course and continue handing over responsibility gradually. It must not be done so quickly that the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina are overwhelmed and unable to take the reins. But, at the same time, it must not be done so slowly that the country's leaders fail to develop a sense of responsibility for Bosnia and Herzegovina's situation, with a corresponding sense of duty towards the citizens who elected them. Bosnia and Herzegovina is in many respects fortunate, since the direction in which it is travelling is clear.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“For Bosnian politicians it has been difficult to move forward on the road of ownership and to avoid the temptation of blaming political opponents or the international community for the lack of progress. For the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina it has been frustrating to see the reform process slow. Fortunately, there is considerable goodwill on all sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, goodwill is not universal, and opportunists have sought to exploit the difficulties of transition to play on old fears of the people. That makes it harder for those politicians with the courage to take on greater responsibility for governing the country and serving the citizens. One can also see in quarters of the international community that now is not the time to step back and hand over the reins.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I will also highlight areas where progress has been made and areas where it has not, as well as outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The report before the Council covers the first six months of this year and ends with the decision of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board to close the Office of the High Representative at the end of June 2007. Developments since that decision have demonstrated the scale of the challenge involved in moving to local ownership, and will have to be 06-60815 considered by the PIC Steering Board when, early next year, it reviews its decision, taking into account the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina's reality today is in many ways uncomfortable.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Mr. Schwarz-Schilling: I first spoke to the Council six months ago, shortly after becoming High Representative and European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. On that occasion, I set out the importance of handing over greater responsibility to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and how I intended to place the principle of local ownership as a guideline of the international community for the normalization and progress of this country towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Half a year later, I wish to discuss with the Council the complex reality of putting that principle into practice. I will also describe how we are seeking to help Bosnia and Herzegovina make the transition beyond peace implementation towards Euro-Atlantic integration.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“At this crucial time, I hope that Council members will continue to support me in the future, and I thank them for the opportunity to participate in today's meeting.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“European Union member States that are also members of the Security Council have lent their support to that dialogue - of course, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The Office of the High Representative will, of course, do its best to send help to New York to go into the details of these cases. Thus, I think that we should really bring this to a final conclusion, in good faith and in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, so that no bad impression attaches to the legal system of the young State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I therefore fully support this process. I thank participants very much for all their comments. I will study them carefully.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Members have probably seen the report prepared by the European Commission for Democracy through Law - the Venice Commission - of the Council of Europe. Although I acknowledge that the report is not legally binding, I believe it nevertheless provides a good basis for discussion. The proposal confines the scope of the review to the cases of those who have challenged their dismissal before a court. That is in line with the idea that the exercise would be meant to strengthen the United Nations process rather than undermining it. As members know, I have been invited by the PIC, along with the European Union (EU) Council secretariat, to follow up with the United Nations the line suggested in the non-paper presented by the EU Council secretariat.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“I believe that the certification of police officers by the International Police Task Force was an ambitious and largely successful attempt to rehabilitate the ranks of police officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of those officers had been compromised by involvement in criminal activities during and after the war. When the process was concluded, at the end of 2002, no provision was made for reviewing decisions where credible evidence existed that the right procedures were not followed. I am concerned that the absence of measures to address those cases could strengthen the case of those claiming that the United Nations-led process was altogether flawed. A review mechanism would consolidate the certification process by overturning confirming decisions that currently raise questions about the process as a whole.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source