Information meeting of the Security Council on Bosnia-Herzegovina

On 11 May 2022, the Security Council held a briefing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Special Representative (SP) Christian Schmidt reported on the latest developments in the country. The Bosnian Representative of the Presidency Shefik Dzarefovic was also invited.

Referring to the periodic report addressed to the UN Security Council, Schmidt highlighted his efforts to advance reforms, unblock institutional deadlock, and increase state functionality in general. He condemned the unilateral actions of the Republika Srpska and the Serbian Representative in the Presidency, Milorad Dodik, aimed at the secession and dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasized that the solution is only in the dialogue between the representatives of the ethnic groups, supported by the international community. He assessed the importance of holding regular parliamentary elections in October of this year, despite the difficulties in amending the Electoral Law.

In his speech, the Permanent Representative of Albania, Mr. Ferit Hoxha, expressed support for the mandate and the work done by PS Schmidt. He pointed out that Bosnia-Herzegovina should rely on the European integration process, which would positively affect the peace and stability of the entire region.

“We are particularly concerned about the ongoing political rhetoric of denial of the genocide committed in Srebenica, the glorification of war criminals, as well as the language of hatred on ethnic grounds”, emphasized Ambassador Hoxha. He called on all parties for dialogue, in order to find acceptable solutions and advance the Euro-Atlantic integration of the country.

In the end, Ambassador Hoxha said that we should help Bosnia-Herzegovina, as a single and united country, and that a unified message from the council is what is expected and what Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves.</p data-wahfont=”13″> p>

In November, the Security Council will consider the renewal of the mandate of the EUFOR-ALTHEA Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.