First of all, I would like to
congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth
session, as well as members of your team, and to extend
to you my full support in your future work.
Plenary meetings of the General Assembly have
always been an opportunity for Heads of State to gather
and exchange their opinions about the world situation
in order to try to find solutions for contemporary global
problems.
My country’s strategic goal of establishing a formal
relationship with and membership in the European
Union (EU) is based upon its ambition to become part
of the big family of democratic States and therefore
assure the full functionality of its own institutions and
its further development on the basis of a free market
and the rule of law, and especially human rights. Based
on the direction and foreign policy activities of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, our focus remains on furthering
our relationship and institutional relationship with the
European Union, according to the Stabilization and
Association Agreement and its full implementation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aspiration to become a
member of the European Union is based upon broad
political census.
The fact that the process of European integration
demands comprehensive political, institutional and
legal adjustments in order to reach European standards
in all areas is of fundamental importance to my country.
We are also fully aware that the active participation
of all segments of society of Bosnia and Herzegovina
is necessary to expedite the process of European
integration. I expect that expediting the remaining
activities and the implementation of the Sejdi.-Finci
ruling of the European Court of Human Rights will
lead to the fulfilment of the requirements for Bosnia
and Herzegovina’s application for accession to the
European Union.
I also hope for a positive development in the process
of fulfilling the conditions for activating the NATO
membership action plan and further integrating Bosnia
and Herzegovina into NATO security structures. I would
also like to emphasize that Bosnia and Herzegovina is
in the final phase of negotiations for accession to the
World Trade Organization.
Allow me to emphasize again that Bosnia and
Herzegovina has a very clear stance with regard to war
crimes. All those accused of war crimes will be held
responsible for the crimes of which they are accused
before either international or domestic courts.
Bosnia and Herzegovina puts great emphasis on
regional and subregional cooperation and dialogue
among neighbouring countries, whose cultures
and traditions have been present in the Balkans for
centuries and who are currently at different stages
of transition and democratic reform. Bosnia and
Herzegovina is turned towards the future and to
cooperation with neighbouring countries on the basis
of mutual respect, as well as respect for sovereignty
and territorial integrity. The development of bilateral
relations with all of our neighbouring countries and
other countries in the region is focused on several key
areas: Euro-Atlantic integration, advancing economic
cooperation, strengthening regional cooperation and
finding constructive solutions for current issues.
Our emphasis on regional cooperation is on the
development of communications infrastructure as a
basis for better economic, cultural and scientific ties, as
well as overall regional development. The potential for
regional economic ties is especially strong in the areas
of industry, tourism, agriculture and energy.
I would like to especially emphasize our bilateral
relations with the Republic of Croatia, which gained
a new dimension and dynamic with the Croatian
accession to the EU, which was marked by eagerness
on both sides to find solutions that are in best interests
of both our countries.
I must point out that we continue to live during
one of the greatest economic and financial crises in
contemporary history, which is certainly the greatest
threat to global peace and security. We must do
everything in our power to tackle its negative effects
and consequences. Although the latest indicators show
that some developing countries are coming out of the
recession, that is not the case in poor and developing
countries, where the consequences of the crisis are very
harsh.
The institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have
been strategically working towards achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals. We believe that,
despite the difficulties caused by the world economic
situation, there will be no obstacles in reaching our stated
targets by 2015. Bosnia and Herzegovina has finalized
the development strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the social inclusion strategy for Bosnia and
Herzegovina, while the strategy for poverty eradication
has already been designed and implemented. All of that
has been done in cooperation with the relevant United
Nations agencies in the country, whom we would like to
thank for their close cooperation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to contribute to
global efforts to define a development framework and
then to implement it in order to readily face economic,
social and environmental challenges. Considering
that the importance of the three aspects of sustainable
development I have mentioned crosses national
borders, Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that regional
cooperation is crucial for the successful preparation of
the new post-2015 development framework.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as all the other
Western Balkan countries at this stage of integration,
follows European Union policy and views with regard to
the new development agenda. Bosnia and Herzegovina
consistently supports the position that sustainable
development is possible only in harmony with nature.
I am of the opinion that economic and political
interests must not be an obstacle to achieving global
consensus on a true beginning of the global fight for the
preservation of the natural balance of planet Earth. It is
often forgotten that climate change has a direct impact
on development, poverty and hunger, and consequently
on global peace and security. Short-term solutions will
have long-term consequences, and the steps we take
today will be our legacy for generations to come.
All of us present here agree that the United Nations
needs continuous and comprehensive reform, which
should be conducted with great caution, assuring a
wide consensus of Member States. United Nations
reform should provide for efficient and coordinated
functioning of all segments and bodies of the system.
It is a widely held belief that Security Council reform
is crucial for core reform of the world Organization.
That reform, carried out with the consensus of the
Member States, is necessary for reasons of efficiency
and credibility, and it can be achieved only by taking
into account the contemporary geopolitical reality,
which differs from that of 1945. Only a Security
Council reformed in that way can have full authority
and responsibility in addressing the most important
issues of international peace and security. That is the
mandate entrusted to the Council by the Charter of the
United Nations.
Dialogue and compromise are the best way to
ensure the widest possible support, and Bosnia and
Herzegovina supports the opinion that Security
Council reform should be moved from a standstill
as soon as possible. We also believe that a reformed
Security Council should have an additional seat for a
State from the Eastern European Group, as the number
of countries in that group has more than doubled in the
past two decades.
In accordance with that position, I would also like
to emphasize that more engagement in preventative
diplomacy is expected from the Security Council. We
believe that more activity in the area of preventive
diplomacy would help solve many problems and crises
before they intensify, which would be a more efficient
way for the Council to work. Encouraging dialogue
to resolve critical issues by compromise, while acting
against any kind of exclusiveness, especially in the
area of human rights and human life, is of the utmost
importance. Timely and efficient conflict prevention,
rather than reaction to a crisis that has already escalated,
is definitely a more effective and less costly approach
to international peace and security.
We are eager to share with others the positive and
the negative of our post-conflict and peacebuilding
experience. Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that
every crisis should be studied carefully, with careful
consideration for the roots of conflict, the culture,
religion and local customs and every other factor in
order to find a just and long-term solution. There are no
universal solutions for any crisis, and each one should
be attended to and considered separately.
Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that it is necessary
to take concrete steps to prevent nuclear proliferation
around the world. In spite of visible obstacles of the
past decade, there are new initiatives giving new
momentum to the disarmament and non-proliferation
process. We believe that nuclear disarmament can be
achieved by encouraging Member States parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to
respect their obligations under the Treaty.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will sign the Arms Trade
Treaty during the Treaty event.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is gravely concerned about
the continuing violence in Syria, which has worsened the
humanitarian crisis and caused unacceptable suffering
for the Syrian people. We call on all the parties to
comply with their obligations under international law
and human rights law.
Resolving the crisis in the Middle East continues
to be one of the most important priorities of the world
Organization. We believe that all possible steps should
be taken to create a positive climate in order to achieve
a just and comprehensive peace in the region. We expect
all sides to refrain from any rash actions and to focus on
launching this very important dialogue.
In order to play a constructive role in international
relations and to contribute to self-sustainable peace
and stability, Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in
the International Security Assistance Force mission in
Afghanistan. In support of international efforts, we also
actively participated in the United Nations missions in
Liberia, South Sudan and Cyprus.
I would also like to emphasize that Bosnia and
Herzegovina remains very concerned that terrorist
attacks around the world continue to take the lives
of innocent victims. We are committed to fighting
terrorism and believe that results in that regard can be
achieved only through comprehensive cooperation and
a partnership of as many Member States as possible.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is also following the
situation on the African continent with great interest.
We expect that despite the world financial and economic
crisis, most developed countries will continue to
increase their contributions to the official development
assistence that is essential for capacity-building in poor
African countries. Therefore, we welcome the activities
of the United Nations through the New Partnership
for Africa’s Development and other efforts aimed at
putting Africa on the road to stable and sustainable
development, especially with regard to achieving the
Millennium Development Goals. That particularly
applies to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
We also support all efforts of the African Union,
African Governments and the United Nations to improve
the rule of law and democracy and to strengthen civil
society and its institutions, in order to improve all
aspects of society. We wish to point out that continued
and greater financial aid to Africa is just as important
as improving the efficiency and transparency of the use
of aid funds for sustainable development.
In today’s world, with political and social processes
more dynamic than ever, we face challenges quite
different from those of only a few decades ago. It is
becoming clear that only a strong multilateral approach
can produce good solutions. In its more than six decades
of existence, the United Nations has seen many trials
and tribulations, but it has always been, and continues
to be, the only guide to a better future. It is still the
only organization capable of providing solutions to the
global problems we face.
It is up to us to make it stronger and more efficient,
for only the United Nations — the most comprehensive
and inclusive organization — can help bring progress
and well-being to our planet. If we work together to
implement all our agreements reached in this hallowed
place, there is no doubt that we will live in better and
more just conditions than exist today. On that path,
we need to return to the basic values and principles
of human rights, equality and world peace that are the
foundation of the United Nations.