I will start with the issue that I believe is of the utmost
importance today, the one causing the greatest concern.
Currently, the world is in a state of chaos which is
producing understandable fear and concern among its
citizens as to a peaceful and secure future. There has
not been so much war in the world since the late 1960s.
Today, in many parts of our planet, there are low- and
medium-intensity conflicts that have the potential
to produce wider regional and global conflicts. From
Afghanistan to Ukraine, the Middle East, Libya,
Central Africa and other regions, we are witnessing
armed conflicts with no chance in sight of our being
able to stop them and reach a lasting peace.
These conflicts are accompanied by a rarely
seen escalation of all forms of violence and brutality,
particularly against civilians. Increased numbers of
internal civil conflicts are causing States to fall apart,
some of them disappearing overnight, others arising
with the support of outside enablers. We also see the
public emergence of new political maps drawn with
new borders, separatist movements getting stronger
and international laws being violated with use of force.
The situation is the result of the unilateral actions of
some great Powers, double standards in international
relations, the breaking of the cohesive legal world order
and other actions contrary to the norms of international
law.
On the other hand, years of economic and financial
crisis have led to dramatic social change with alarming
socioeconomic consequences. Despite growing global
prosperity, the gap between rich and poor countries
and nations is getting wider. The middle class is
getting smaller while inequality within societies is
growing. Systems of social support are declining, with
unemployment, especially among young people, taking
on alarming proportions. Given the general situation,
we must think about future development.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is at present a developing
country characterized by an open and fully liberal
economy with foreign trade and economic ties directed
towards the countries of the region and the European
Union. Unfortunately, as a developing country, we are
facing the problem of a high unemployment rate — over
25 per cent — a large trade deficit, lack of capital and
major investment and insufficient and weak industrial
production.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic and social
situation is similar to that of the region of the Western
Balkans in general. It is extremely difficult. The
economic reconstruction and recovery of the country
after the tragic conflict of 1991-1995 have slowed since
the global economic crisis engulfed the entire world.
However, while total economic growth in 2013 was
1 per cent, industrial production increased to 6.7 per
cent. The biggest economic problem is the decline in
foreign investment, which in 2013 was 34 per cent less
than in 2012. Due to the general economic downturn
in the country and countries of the region, as well
as the damage caused by natural disasters and their
negative effects on economic and production activities,
the decline in indirect tax revenues significantly
endangered the fiscal stability of the country.
Regardless of current negative economic trends
due to the economic crisis, we believe that by using
our natural resources appropriately we can achieve
an economic growth and development that would lead
to long-term progress and political stabilization of
the country. In order to do that, it is clear that we and
the region need the support of the developed world,
especially the developed countries of the European
Union, the United States and Japan as well as Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.
We cannot achieve sustainable development that
involves investment in the real sector of the economy,
building and developing transportation infrastructure,
poverty reduction, and the effective and rational use
of resources entirely by ourselves. We are too small a
country and region to achieve those objectives alone,
nor do we have enough capital to build industrial
facilities that adhere to green economy principles or
protect natural resources and put us on a sustainable
development track.
When it comes to the economic determinants of
sustainable development, I am convinced that most small
countries share the same perspective and position. We
cannot resolve issues of progress alone or prevent the
emergence of the vicious cycle of poverty that threatens
to undermine our societies. Therefore, in future we
will need to continue to adhere to the principles of
economic solidarity and mutual economic cooperation
and support, and find a common framework of values
and actions.
In addition, given the multipolarity of the economic
world, I hope that we will find more partners from
developed countries on our path towards development
and recovery. The world of the future should not be
determined by the false choice between haves and
have-nots. Apart from the issue of uncertainty for the
future, every crisis entails the erroneous belief that rich
countries fare better than poor ones. Indeed, one forgets
that, due to global interdependence and responsibility,
no one can survive alone; either we all do or nobody
does.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed
to meeting the Millennium Development Goals,
despite the difficulty of their implementation, given
the challenging conditions following the war and the
economic crisis. Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed
to regional cooperation with all interested countries,
based on the principles of mutual respect and common
interests. Bosnia and Herzegovina is surrounded by
neighbours who are also in various stages of transition
and democratic reform, and we share the same
problems arising from the complex processes that must
be engaged on our way towards membership in the
European Union.
We attach special importance to regional
cooperation. Bosnia and Herzegovina has good-
neighbourly relations marked by long historical ties
and regional interdependence with Serbia, Croatia
and Montenegro and other countries of the former
Yugoslavia and the Balkans.
All of us gathered here today representing our
countries and peoples need, in the near and distant
future, to find concrete and clear solutions to the
problems and challenges caused by the broadest range
of sustainable development issues, as defined by a
number of the United Nations conferences over the past
20 years. The sustainable development of countries,
regions and groups of countries, continents and the
entire world is a key element and basic starting point
for further strategic steps and activities for modern
humankind to resolve. The state of the world economy,
environment and the contemporary society as a whole
is full of problems and challenges that require our
full commitment and dedication to continued growth
and the expanded possibility of achieving sustainable
development in the world, which unfortunately slowed
down and stopped with the emergence of the global
economic and financial crisis starting in 2008.
I should like to say a few words about possible
problems related to sustainable development in Bosnia
and Herzegovina and the region of South-East Europe
as an important European region poised to build strong
political and economic ties with the European Union
and other countries worldwide.
I am afraid that we in Bosnia and Herzegovina do
not have the same starting position as other countries
of the world in terms of inclusion in the sustainable
development process of the United Nations. In 1992,
when the first conference was held in Rio de Janeiro,
we were at the beginning of a horrendous chapter
of our history and a tragic conflict whose negative
political and economic effects have continued to cause
suffering in society. However, with the support of the
United Nations and the European Union, today we are
on the road to recovery, with the hope of achieving the
ultimate goal of political success, namely, full legal
integration into the European Union and the economic
achievement of developed country status.
This year the world is celebrating the centenary
of the outbreak of the First World War. Incredibly,
the current world economic and political situation
resembles the situation of 100 years ago. A crisis
of economic depression, social disintegration, an
ineffective international system and the rise of armed
conflicts and wars have led to a weakening of the
optimistic driving force and a lack of global vision and
joint action. The common goal that is necessary for a
stable international order is fading on the horizon of
spreading conflicts. It requires us to set clear priorities
and seek new lighthouse beacons.
This year in Bosnia and Herzegovina we marked
the Sarajevo assassination that is commonly taken as
the direct cause of the start of the First World War,
which resulted in the deaths of more than 15 million
people. At several events dedicated to the anniversary,
together we have asked ourselves: Have we learned the
lessons from the past of 100 years ago? When I see the
local wars being fought on all sides of the world today,
I am afraid that we have not learned those lessons; on
the contrary and in the meantime, we have repeated the
same old mistakes and made new ones.
The world needs peace more than ever. It is
only in peace that one can develop and prosper. The
maintenance of international peace and security is
imperative to the development of every country and
the entire world. It is the responsibility of the Member
States to find acceptable frameworks and tools to
improve the security situation in the world in the
interest of development and progress.
In conclusion, three days ago I spoke in my
capacity as a Member of the Presidency of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, at the Climate Summit. Yesterday I
met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the same
capacity. Today, the Secretariat has allowed itself to
interpret the Charter of the United Nations wrongfully,
unfortunately. That is unacceptable. The future of
the Organization of the United Nations is based on
consensual agreement by all Member States and not the
decisions of the bureaucracy.