Remarks at a UN Security Council Debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, High Representative Inzko, for your briefing, for your service, and for representing the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and your stewardship of the Office of the High Representative.

High Representative Inzko, the United States again reiterates our strong support for your mandate under Dayton as the final authority regarding interpretation of the civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement. We, of course, look forward to the day when Bosnia and Herzegovina meets the objectives and conditions established by the Peace Implementation Council for the closure of the Office of the High Representative. But let’s be very clear, that day has not yet arrived.

The United States’ commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s success is enormous and our commitment to peace there enduring. It is in that spirit that we welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina’s positive steps towards greater Euro-Atlantic integration. The submission of its EU membership application in February was an important milestone, and I’d like to congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina for this step.

The United States also welcomes the government’s full registration of 21 defense properties in the Federation, a positive sign of tangible progress towards meeting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s NATO Membership Action Plan.

Despite these positive steps, continuing down the path of Euro-Atlantic integration will require vision; it will require political will; it will require real follow-through on commitments, and it will require focus to meet the conditions set by the Peace Implementation Council.

The United States joins the High Representative in his call for the registration of defense properties in the Republika Srpska, and continued registration of additional properties in the Federation.

We also continue to encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to make genuine progress on the EU’s socio-economic Reform Agenda. As the High Representative noted, new labor laws in both entities are important steps toward improving the business climate in Bosnia and Herzegovina and making the country more competitive in the global marketplace. However, critical work remains to be done to enhance the rule of law, tackle corruption, and improve the overall political climate in the country, steps that will benefit all of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens.

Impunity and divisiveness are not acceptable. And I am particularly disturbed by the truly outrageous and dangerously provocative decision to name a building in honor of Radovan Karadžić, and the timing of the proclamation in advance of the ruling of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in his case. Honoring a man who has been charged with and days later convicted of genocide is despicable. Such craven political maneuvers do a disservice to his victims, to the country, and undermine the spirit of peace and reconciliation needed for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward.

The United States also remains deeply concerned by politicians who seek to erode the competencies of state-level institutions. In the interest of greater stability and security, we encourage the Republika Srpska National Assembly to formally withdraw its decision to hold a referendum on the state-level Court and Prosecutor’s Office.

Mr. President, we look forward to the day when Bosnia and Herzegovina meets the objectives and conditions established by the Peace Implementation Council for the closure of the Office of the High Representative – when we can say with absolute confidence that Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached full compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement and is now a “peaceful, viable state irreversibly on the course for European integration.” We have seen progress, but that day has not yet arrived. For instance, despite the recent surge in local engagement on Mostar, political leaders remain unwilling to make the compromises necessary for the city to hold elections for the first time since 2008. This same intransigence blocks progress on other fundamental issues, like the release of the 2013 census data, and reflects on individual leaders’ credibility regarding Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

We encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders, and all members of the international community, to support the actions and reforms needed to reach that milestone and to provide all necessary support to the High Representative as he fulfills his mandate.

Finally, I would like to just reiterate the High Representative’s own sentiments in his report regarding the death of Mr. Roberts Owen. Mr. Owen gave of his own time and energy to serve as the Presiding Arbitrator for the Brčko Tribunal, and we are grateful for his unwavering dedication to establishing irreversible peace and stability, through his work at Dayton and on the Tribunal.

Thank you very much.

Source: U.S.Department of State

By

Robert Williams

Editor in Chief