YouSaid · the spoken record

Terzic

lines on the record: 44
first: 2004-03-03
most recent: 2006-11-08
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

“Christian Schwarz-Schilling is investing in the implementation of priorities, and to thank you for the cooperation we have seen during the last four years of my mandate.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Based on the activities undertaken so far and supported by the High Representative, I believe we all agree that depriving people of their human rights is a dangerous precedent that compromises the international community in its overall commitment to ensure the rule of law and its principles in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the light of principles promoted by the United Nations for more than 60 years. I believe, however, that we are now close to finding a solution. All I can do is ask the Council to facilitate the quick resolution of this matter. I hope that the Security Council will take my address today into consideration, and that you will allow me, Mr. President, to express my appreciation for the energy Mr.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I think the messages sent by our international allies should also reflect this fact. I cannot finish my statement without returning to the issue we have already discussed many times before, namely, the mistake and injustice that was done to Bosnian police officers by the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF) mission. These officers were deprived of an elementary human right when they were not allowed to appeal the IPTF decision against them before a court or other relevant body.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Without it, we will put the Special Representative in a situation where he has to operate from within a legal vacuum, just as we did back in 1990s with the European Commission Monitoring Mission. This situation is not one we would like to see happen again. Elections are always a challenge for a democracy. They are a test of political maturity and of a society as a whole. For the first time, this October, the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina single-handedly financed and organized general elections. We derive great satisfaction from that fact. Keeping in mind some of the challenges I mentioned previously, it is crucial that a new Government be formed as soon as possible with a view to moving speedily along the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. That is the wish of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all countries in the region.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“If we are unable at this time to comply with those criteria, is it not clear that the political situation in the country is so precarious that the presence of the High Representative is still necessary? We must not allow mistakes like this to happen. If we do, the mistake will blow up in our faces, and we risk jeopardizing the entire mission and previous achievements of the Office of the High Representative. I would also ask the Council to consider the fact that signing the Agreement will provide the legal background and framework for the presence of the Special Representative of the European Union and for the execution of his mandate on our soil.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“This is a serious matter and the future of my country is at stake. The developments over the past few months have proven, and they continue to prove, that the timing for the abolition of the Office of the High Representative was a fatal misstep. The transformation of the Office of the High Representative into the Office of the Special Representative of the European Union must not start until we are certain that Bosnia and Herzegovina and its new Government are completely ready to sign the Agreement, namely that we are ready to fulfil the expected conditions. This phase will be the final test of political maturity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and her actual readiness to run important processes on her own.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“The processes of reform described previously and the real possibility of signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union had in fact caused us to start thinking about the transformation of the mandate of the Office of the High Representative into the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union, which will not be based on the flawed and claustrophobic Dayton framework, but on the platform of the Agreement and eventual European Union accession. The Council knows that I was one of the loudest voices demanding that domestic officials assume responsibility. I also called for adjustments to international mandates in my country so that they would not exceed the actual need for foreign intervention. Therefore, please take my words as unbiased and unprejudiced.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Nowadays, after the absolute victory of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in the elections in Republika Srpska, their obstructions continue and their President Dodik is now introducing the vocabulary of threat and blackmail - something I had hoped was left behind for good in the 1990s. At the risk of losing the Council's attention here, I must add one final note. The policy of silent sympathy for Serbia, which has allegedly "lost" Montenegro and is about to "lose" Kosovo, directly enables the destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This situation is soon to be further complicated by the Peace Implementation Council decision to close the Office of the High Representative.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Even though I sincerely wish our Eastern neighbours every success in democratization and European integration, as that will be good for my country, it is very unclear at this moment when Serbia will make a crucial step forward. The international community is obviously ready to tolerate this type of rhetoric, since it is just rhetoric, they say, neglecting the fact that rhetoric creates an atmosphere, which leads to an environment where it will be harder and harder to undo the damage it causes. Every day counts for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I strongly oppose any further wasting of time. The Government of Republika Srpska and its political sponsors are aware of this fact and they are trying to steal every single day they can.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“It seems that the international community and the Office of the High Representative have decided to shut their eyes to these threats. They consider obvious separatist intentions to be merely "harmless" rhetoric. It is unconceivable for me that the international community did not recognize that this "scenario" was drafted in Belgrade and that it coincided neatly with Bosnian elections. The Government of Republika Srpska and its Prime Minister are trying to block the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina until Serbia is again ready to reopen the Stabilization and Association Agreement negotiations and fulfil its obligations.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“They challenge and mock the international community and those who represent it. At the brink of success, on the verge of the grand finale, after years of maintaining a proper course, it took them less than a couple of months to jeopardize everything that had been done. The report presented by Mr. Schwarz-Schilling was a very detailed one, but I must say it has been shaded in too diplomatic a manner. All the positive processes in the country have been blocked by the Government of Republika Srpska. I am very reluctant to say all of this, as my previous experience tells me that the Council will not take my words as seriously as it should, had it not heard the same message from the High Representative himself. Nevertheless, I feel obliged to share this frustration with you. It is my duty as Prime Minister.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Now the biggest challenge is the third government - that of Republika Srpska. Instead of joining the ongoing momentum in fulfilling the Stability and Association Agreement criteria, it has blocked every single reform process. It has unilaterally decided to withdraw all previously achieved agreements, and keeps threatening that it will take all the entity jurisdictions that have been transferred to the State back into its hands. Their obstructionist behaviour, their lack of respect for already assumed and agreed obligations, and their arrogant and aggressive campaign to get rid of all who do not think like them, which, by the way, most often takes place in blatant violation of countless laws, have brought about a radical change in the political atmosphere in the country.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“My Council of Ministers has enabled the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all of the international community, to commemorate 2005 not only as the tenth anniversary of the biggest massacre on European soil - the genocide in Srebrenica - or as the tenth anniversary of the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the signing of the Dayton Agreement, but also as the year when, on 25 November, we closed the door on the claustrophobic era of Dayton and began a new door, the Brussels era for Bosnia and Herzegovina, by officially launching Stability and Association Agreement negotiations with the EU. The processes that we undertook over a period of more than three years had their ups and downs. But the key leverage, which maintained progress throughout, was the cooperation between the State Government and the two entity governments.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“The War Crimes Chamber operates in line with the best of international standards and practices, and has already taken over several cases that were originally to be tried at The Hague. To cut a long story short, Bosnia and Herzegovina managed, in three and a half years, to transform itself from a country struggling with conflict- a country with a clouded future that was occupied with the slow and inadequate implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement - to one with credible capacities that is in the process of defining its contractual relationship with the EU.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“We also fulfilled all the technical criteria required for joining NATO's Partnership for Peace. The political condition, however, was not included. With regard to defence reform, we managed to merge the armies and ministries of defence of the two entities and to introduce a single chain of command and parliamentary control over them. Furthermore, we had to reduce the number of troops by one third. Through a process of judicial reform, we established the Office of the Prosecutor and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We formed a body called the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, which is in charge of securing the rule of law throughout the entire country. We are the first country in the region to satisfy international standards for processing war crimes cases.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“However, in order to fully comprehend the degree of success achieved, one should know that the real success was making the State bodies function so that the State could exercise its jurisdiction and powers in key areas. Just to give Council members a feel for what was accomplished: we set up a single economic space, and as of 1 January, we introduced one rate of value added tax, thereby eliminating much of the "grey economy". Our budget went through the roof. Over the past two years, foreign direct investment has continued to increase and our gross domestic product is a regional record-setter, with an incredible growth of 6 per cent. Furthermore, we united the existing intelligence services so that now, for the first time in history, they function under strict parliamentary control, in accordance with European standards.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Our dedication was recognized. First, an EU feasibility study at the end of 2003 gave us a positive evaluation. The feasibility study defined the conditions that we had to fulfil in order to launch negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement. After receiving the study, we first shortened the period envisaged for securing compliance from 12 months to six months. During that time, we passed 46 new laws and established 27 new State-level institutions, so as to meet EU requirements in 16 designated areas. I am especially proud of the fact that none of those laws was either proclaimed or imposed by the High Representative - which had been the case before. The number of laws adopted was remarkable.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“That green light was an enormous incentive for us in all of our efforts to come. Any attempt to achieve reform is bound to encounter resistance as soon as the Government announces it. Reforming the defence sector, the intelligence services and the customs and taxation departments, and corporate restructuring et cetera, are a true nightmare for any prime minister, the number- one thing you wish did not have to happen during your mandate. However, what we in Bosnia and Herzegovina have done has no precedent anywhere in the world. We stepped up to the plate without giving it a second thought, and opened a Pandora's box. The entity governments joined the State Government in this "mission impossible", and we started off by adjusting our laws to international norms and standards, especially those of the EU and NATO.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“That platform consisted of the Euro-Atlantic prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina - our future membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO. That is the top priority for the Government. As the first-ever Chairman of the Council of Ministers not subject to rotation, I offered that programme to the Government and to the citizens, as well as to international stakeholders, represented through the Office of the High Representative. One of the greatest obstacles we faced back then was the overwhelming scepticism regarding our ability to be a part of such a process. Soon afterwards, our decisiveness was rewarded at the EU Thessaloniki Summit. That was a historic event for us, as the EU confirmed the existence of the European perspective, both for us and for other countries in the region.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I will not go over the issues that the High Representative covered in his report, but I will try to offer a different approach and different interpretations of the events that have taken place in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Four years ago, the Office of the High Representative was the sole body preparing and controlling laws and political processes in my country. It had the power to suspend or dismiss any individual who was found to be obstructing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The electoral victory of the nationalists, as we were called - or rather stigmatized - by the international community, triggered disappointment and a huge disinclination among international stakeholders. Despite that, and on the basis of electoral promises of all parties, it proved possible for us to come together around a single platform for action.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“Mr. Terzic' (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Bosnian; English text provided by the delegation): This is the third and last time that I shall address the Council in my capacity of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina under my current mandate, which is coming to an end. My statement will cover not only the reporting period, but also the past four years of my mandate. I want to share with the Council all that has been done and all that took place in my country during that time, as well as some of the lessons that we have learned. This is something that I consider to be significant for the positive development of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for the Security Council's experience in international intervention.”
2006-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5563 (2006) · source
“I am taking this opportunity to address the Council to reiterate our request to look into this problem as soon as possible and take a decision that would uphold the fundamental values of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Based on the Security Council presidential statement of 25 June 2004 (S/PRST/2004/22), the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that the Security Council is the only relevant place in which we could find a mutually satisfactory solution. With this in mind, the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations sent an official letter (S/2006/64) in which he requests, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consideration of possible options for securing rights of appeal and review of decertification decisions that were previously found to be appropriate.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Moreover, for 150 people, the established complaint procedure was withheld because the decision to decertify them was taken on the last day of the IPTF mandate. During my last Visit to New York, in November 2005, I presented this problem to the Under-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, and the Secretary-General's then Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Mark Malloch Brown. In the meantime, pressure has been increasing, not only from the decertified policemen, but also from the general public in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because of their conviction that the situation presents a clear violation of basic human rights. This dissatisfaction is compounded by the fact these policemen had been screened by the United Nations, an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights all over the world.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Therefore, I want once again to express our gratitude for that extraordinary work and participation in securing prosperity in so many areas of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As I am sure the Council knows, the IPTF, which was under the umbrella of the UNMIBH, was in charge, among other things, of the certification process for the police forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During this process, decisions were made to decertify 598 former policemen. A direct consequence was that all of those persons were prohibited from working in law enforcement agencies for the rest of their lives. The main problem now lies in the fact that during the mandate of the IPTF those individuals had no opportunity to see any documentation, nor were they given any reason for their decertification.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“It is exactly this experience that gives us the right to ask for the support of the Member States of the United Nations for our membership in the newly established United Nations body, the Peacebuilding Commission. I want to especially emphasize that the main reason for my address to this body is a problem that was not fully resolved in the right manner. It relates to the process of police reform that was conducted by the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There should be no doubt whatsoever that the International Police Task Force (IPTF), as well as the overall United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), has made an unprecedented contribution to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and, even more, laid a foundation for the modern reformed police structures in my country.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“I am confident that the Council will agree with my remark that Bosnia and Herzegovina's experience makes it a successful example of peacebuilding in which the international community also played a significant role. Ten years after the conflict, Bosnia and Herzegovina can be a relevant example for the United Nations for other post-conflict areas and a model of principles for resolving such situations. The key reason behind this success is that the international community's single voice was joined by the local leadership on the reforms and changes needed to create a society with better opportunities for all. This attitude and policy can stabilize the most complex situations. We know this from our own experience.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“We managed to do this by surviving very forceful reform for the purpose of strengthening the State's capacity. At the same time, together with all the needed reforms, for the last two years, we have marked continuous growth in direct foreign investment. Our stable currency, low inflation, increased exports, growth in the gross domestic product - which was 6 per cent in 2004, and the same level is expected in 2005 - all of these elements clearly demonstrate that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the right path. Because of this, I want to stress that we support the High Representative in the directions and policy he set forth for the fullest transfer of ownership to Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions. Our clear goal is the achievement of full integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Euro-Atlantic and European communities.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Mr. Terzic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Bosnian; English text provided by the delegation): Two years since my last Visit, I have the special pleasure of once again addressing the Security Council, together with the new - but I am certain, the last - High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr. Christian Schwarz-Schilling. I believe that the very fact that continuity now lies with the Prime Minister and not the High Representative sends a good signal regarding the stability and the relationships achieved within Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the Council knows, during the last three and a half years Bosnia and Herzegovina has passed from a country focused on implementing a peace agreement to one that is today negotiating with the European Commission with a View to signing the Stabilization and Accession Agreement.”
2006-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5412 (2006) · source
“Yet, like any other country, it is committed to international legal instruments, including the European Convention on Human Rights, which forms part of our Constitution. Therefore, the issue is rather complex. For our part, we will try to meet our obligations towards international law. At the same time, we hope to maintain a procedure that addresses all aspects.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“Thirdly, the Council should support the High Representative in his intention to transfer his competencies to local governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fourthly, the Council should support my Government in structural and economic reforms and in the fight against organized crime. Together, let us create in Bosnia and Herzegovina a positive environment for the implementation of those measures. The High Representative and I wish to dramatically change the role of the Office of the High Representative in decision-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the elections in 2006. I would like the Council to support us in that. Very briefly, with respect to the de-certification of police officers, it is truly a priority to uphold the legal instruments of the United Nations. Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts its international obligations.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“Mr. Terzic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Bosnian; interpretation provided by the delegation): Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor again. The Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom asked about the international community's exit strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As far as we are concerned, the exit strategy is clear. First, a time frame and deadlines have been provided for Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership in the European Union and NATO. It is to join the European Union by 2009. We would like the Council to support us and give us encouragement in that endeavour. Secondly, I would like the Council to start promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina as a success story of the international community because that is really what it is.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“In order to achieve our common goal - full political stability and economic sustainability - we have to put in more hard work and make further joint efforts, both domestically and internationally. A detailed and impartial analysis of the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as an overview of remaining tasks, are presented in the High Representative's report to the Security Council. While sharing fully the opinion that urgent measures are required in key development sectors, I wish to assure the Council that the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina will make whatever efforts are necessary to fulfil that goal. At the same time, I am convinced that we will continue to receive the support of our dear friends on this Council, for it is indispensable to us.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“The security situation in the country is very good at the moment and we believe that the threat of the recurrence of conflict no longer exists. Therefore, I would like to ask the Council, keeping in mind the vast experience of this body, to contribute actively to defining the mandate of the European force in a way that will contribute to the further stabilization of the country. Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the arrest of persons indicted for war crimes and assistance in enrolling Bosnia and Herzegovina in Euro-Atlantic security structures are at the very top of our list of priorities. A huge job has been done in Bosnia and Herzegovina to date. Enormous progress has been made.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“The statement underlines the importance of a stronger and more open cooperation between the countries of South-East Europe. The economic progress and prosperity of the region depend upon its stability, which was lacking in the past, but which we now continue to improve upon. That can be done only by strengthening neighbourly and regional relations. We are constantly making considerable efforts to that end and are determined to keep improving our bilateral relations with all the countries of the region. Another important event will occur in Bosnia- Herzegovina this year: the replacement of the forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with a task force of the European Union. We expect the Council's full involvement in defining the precise mandate of the new task force.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“In my opinion, that is the only reasonable way of assuming responsibilities for the future and of taking the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina into our own hands. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a prosperous future and potential economic stability within the European Union. We are aware of the fact that regional cooperation is the key element of success in that regard. Therefore, we have done a great deal to promote it recently. Our country chairs the South-East European Cooperation Process, which involves the countries of the region. The recent statement issued by the prime ministers of seven countries of the region at the investment conference in Mostar last week speaks in favour of my argument that regional cooperation is headed in the right direction.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“I call the Council's attention to the fact that, until recently, all large-scale projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina were drafted and often imposed by the High Representative. In 2003, the High Representative set up several commissions for the implementation of key reforms. Although representatives of the international community chaired the commissions, its members were local experts. This yielded good results. What we want in 2004 is to form our own commissions to address reform issues and for the Office of the High Representative to be there to provide expert assistance and logistics and to ensure that we comply with European standards. In that way, responsibility will shift to local factors, which I truly believe are capable of assuming it.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“The document entitled "Development Strategy of Bosnia-Herzegovina (PRSP-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper)", prepared entirely by local experts and recently completed, enables us to make long-term development plans for the first time ever. We are determined to accomplish the goals envisaged in that document, thereby reducing the poverty rate in the country. However, the ongoing participation of the international community is absolutely essential to that end and we therefore expect the Council's support. I must emphasize once again our gratitude to the international community and to High Representative Lord Ashdown and his Office for their efforts in achieving countless results together with us. We have made huge steps towards forming a true partnership with one another.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“That was the key precondition for our joining the Partnership for Peace, which we expect to do at the forthcoming meeting in Istanbul in June this year. We have also started to enforce the Law on Indirect Taxation, which unifies the three formerly existing customs departments and introduces a value-added tax. Let me also mention the set of six laws in the area of public security, which will establish the State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA) as a modern, State-level police task force. The Law on Intelligence and Security Agencies, whose ratio legis is to put this sector, too, under State- level control, is in the final phases of its adoption.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“At the same time, the report requires that we show substantial progress in 16 areas recognized by the European Commission as being crucial. We are determined to show the required progress by June this year. In order to do so, we have already adopted and started implementing the action plan, which involves the adoption of 48 new laws and the establishment of 25 new institutions at the State level. We are determined to begin negotiations for the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union this year. Bosnia and Herzegovina has already started to work on the outlined priorities. We have adopted the Law on Defence, which provides for establishment of the Ministry of Defence at the State level and for full civilian control over the armed forces.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“On a positive note, I have come from Sarajevo to assure the Council that my Government is not merely paying lip service to its determination for reform, but that we are actively, on a daily basis, taking steps that prove our determination and commitment to reform. With this in mind, I am here to assure the Council that we will continue with the entire process of reform, especially with economic reform, democratic institution-building, and establishing the rule of law. Bosnia and Herzegovina has gone far beyond the early stages of its European journey. The positive assessment of the feasibility study carried out by the European Commission represents much-needed encouragement for us, and it acknowledges the results achieved so far.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a positive example of how intervention by the international community can be effective and of how a post-conflict country can become an active participant in the process of regional stabilization. Considerable effort and a great deal of coordination were required on part of the local authorities and international representatives in order to achieve this kind of success. I daresay that we all are now close to the finish line. Our ultimate goal is, as stated in the report of the High Representative, ensuring that Bosnia and Herzegovina is put irreversibly on the road to statehood and the European Union - that is, Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. I therefore call upon the Council to continue its support for this joint project.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“Finally, I would like to use this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to the people of Macedonia on the tragic loss of their President, Mr. Boris Trajkovski, and of his entourage, who were killed in an aircraft accident on their way to an investment conference in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His devotion to bringing about peace and prosperity in his country and in the entire region makes him irreplaceable and our loss even greater. Bosnia and Herzegovina today is just another European country well on its way through the process of transition. We are no longer the focus of the international community, as we were several years ago.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source
“Mr. Terzic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Bosnian; English text provided by the delegation): It is a great honour for me to have the opportunity to address the Security Council on behalf of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on such an important issue as the twenty-fifth report of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement, and at such an important time for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Allow me at the outset, Sir, to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and to wish you every success in guiding the work of the Council this month. I would like also, on behalf of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as personally, to thank Lord Ashdown for his thorough and eloquent briefing and for the kind words he addressed to my Government and to me.”
2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source