Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1998

It is my

privilege and honour to address the fifty-third session of

the General Assembly on behalf of Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

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At the outset I would like to congratulate Mr. Didier

Opertti on his election as President. His well-known skills

and experience in international affairs guarantee the wise

conduct of this session. Our gratitude goes to the outgoing

President, Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko of Ukraine.

Just a few days ago the outcome of the recent general

elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina was made public. We

are satisfied with the fact that those important elections,

conducted under the auspices of the Organization for

Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), passed

practically without incident or disruption. According to the

general assessment by the international and local monitors,

we had free and fair elections.

A new chapter in the political life of Bosnia and

Herzegovina is about to begin. The new Parliament and the

new Council of Ministers will have to address without

delay a number of issues of vital importance for our

country. Indeed, at stake is the destiny of a country with a

particular internal structure: three constitutive peoples, two

entities and one internationally recognized State. Only

through scrupulous respect for equal rights and adequate

participation in power by the parties in Bosnia and

Herzegovina can we achieve the goal, which has no

credible alternative: a modern State based on the rule of

law, parliamentary democracy, respect for human rights and

a market economy. This will also open the door for

integration into European and transatlantic institutions. The

most encouraging sign in this direction was the recent

Declaration of support by the European Union and the

establishment of its Joint Task Force with Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

It is obvious that we in Bosnia and Herzegovina

cannot do this alone. We must prove to our friends and

supporters from around the world that we can be a reliable,

responsible partner in this joint project, which in the end

should place Bosnia and Herzegovina in the family of

democratic States. But it also must be remembered that,

inevitably, those in Bosnia and Herzegovina who behave

differently or against the rules will not be allowed to

participate in this endeavour of crucial importance.

The question about the future of my country is being

asked in many quarters of the world. The same question,

but certainly with an additional existential and emotional

charge, is in the air in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself.

There are no easy answers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, since we are talking here about the future of a

very specific country, the possible answer is at the same

time both simple and complicated. It is simple because of

the fact that whoever holds public office in Bosnia and

Herzegovina is obliged to implement the provisions of the

Dayton Agreement fully and unconditionally. On the other

hand, it is complicated because it will, to a large extent,

depend on good political will, a sense of historical

responsibility and the determination of each player in the

complex State structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina to do

so.

Almost three years after the signing of the Peace

Agreement, the consolidation of peace and the

reconstruction process in Bosnia and Herzegovina is

entering a new stage. From the very beginning, the

military component was implemented well and an

environment of overall security was created. Thus, we

were able to focus our energy on the civilian aspects of

the Agreement, which proved to be extremely complex.

We went through the rough waters of various obstacles,

mistrust, misunderstanding and obstruction. But it was

also a time of the first signs of confidence-building and

the establishment of the necessary foundation for a

healthy partnership.

In spite of the often justified criticism regarding the

pace of progress, one must recall some of the important

positive steps that have been made: one flag, a common

currency, common license plates, common passports,

generally improved freedom of movement and significant

reconstruction results. On the other hand, the return of

refugees and displaced persons to their homes of origin,

the proper functioning of State institutions, an

independent judicial system, and the uniform protection

of human rights still represent major problems in Bosnia

and Herzegovina.

Therefore, with the elections behind us, the renewed

political resolve and energy must be applied to finding a

solution to all the aforementioned issues. A multi-ethnic,

multicultural Bosnia and Herzegovina within both its

entities, in which mutual respect, equality and cooperation

among the constitutive peoples and different ethnic groups

are shared assets, will be the best answer to superficial

theories on the inevitable clashes between different

cultures and civilizations.

The continued presence of the international

community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is certainly

needed. Without the generous help and support it has

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extended so far, little would have been achieved. The

United Nations and its specialized agencies stand high

among those that are doing their best to help Bosnia and

Herzegovina overcome its problems. But the time has come

to consider that one future path may lie in changing the

donor-recipient relationship into a concrete, project-oriented

joint venture, in which local companies and infrastructure

could have a more substantial participation.

This would no doubt contribute to the faster economic

rehabilitation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to reaching

the level of self-sustainable growth. Better economic

prospects will certainly enhance our ability to overcome

many existing obstacles and to achieve the overall stability

of the country; and the ultimate goal of handing over the

business of running the country to the citizens of Bosnia

and Herzegovina would be better served.

At a more global level, this is the way for Bosnia and

Herzegovina to become a factor for stability in the region

and an active partner in building security architecture on the

continent. As has already been mentioned, we in Bosnia

and Herzegovina cannot do this alone. But, hand in hand

with the international community, we can all continue our

journey into the next millennium with more hope and better

prospects.

In less than two years, the century — full of

achievements and unbelievable technological progress, but

also a period of two world wars and a number of smaller

but no less tragic conflicts — will be over. We are stepping

into a new millennium with a lot of expectations, but also

with heavy baggage.

Here, I would be morally and politically reckless if I

did not highlight the tragic and increasingly alarming

situation in the Kosovo region of the Federal Republic of

Yugoslavia. Events there certainly have a contaminating

effect on Bosnia and Herzegovina, at least psychologically.

However, the situation is in itself worthy of our great

consideration and engagement, regardless of its impact on

Bosnia and Herzegovina or beyond.

Lessons must have been learned from the international

treatment Bosnia and Herzegovina received during our

recent crisis. Decisiveness, urgency and the proper

combination of tools and remedies available to the key

factors must all be there in order for us to achieve a speedy

and proper solution. The human, national and democratic

rights of all the parties must be taken into consideration, as

must the territorial integrity of all States in the region. No

matter how we get there, all lasting solutions end with a

political settlement — one which all the parties need to

abide by, if not always enthusiastically support. We are

there to help in any way we can and the active support of

us all will be necessary.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the other hand, has tried

to learn from its recent past. When you have to pay a

high price for a lesson, you also learn well. Among other

steps, Bosnia and Herzegovina has ratified the Convention

on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and

Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their

Destruction. We now need to continue our efforts to

decontaminate the ground, and the assistance of the

international community is also essential in this

endeavour.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s experience was also

critical to the recent adoption of the Statute of the

International Criminal Court in Rome. We played a vital

and active role in Rome, since we are convinced that

justice and reconciliation, legality and peace, are

intertwined. The new Court should take into consideration

the experiences of the International Tribunal for the

former Yugoslavia, whose impact on lasting peace in

Bosnia and Herzegovina is critical.

We in Bosnia and Herzegovina are convinced that

those responsible for serious violations of international

humanitarian law should be brought to justice, regardless

of the ethnicity of the victims or perpetrators. We have a

direct and decisive interest in securing compliance by all

signatories, and all others who are obligated, with all their

commitments under the peace Agreement, including full

compliance with the International Tribunal.

One thing we can be proud of is our universal

Organization, the United Nations, which, throughout this

time, has been the main vehicle for promoting peace,

cooperation and development on our planet. In the face of

new challenges, we would like to see the United Nations

even more efficient and instrumental in dealing with a

number of global issues.

The struggle against terrorism, illegal arms and drug-

trafficking and violations of human rights is in the

forefront of our common agenda for a better future. The

role of a dynamic, effective, well-focused United Nations

is indispensable in that respect.

This year, we are also celebrating the fiftieth

anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights. Thanks to that document and to the tireless

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activities of people around the world, human rights have

become a genuine global issue, and ensuring their respect

and protection is one of the most important ongoing tasks

of the international community.

The end of this millennium in human history has

witnessed a growing number of massive humanitarian

emergencies. We need to draw conclusions from them

because the flagrant violation of human rights and

humanitarian law and the barbaric acts of savagery that we

have witnessed in various parts of the globe in recent years

are an affront to our common humanity.

Based on our own experience in Bosnia and

Herzegovina, we have learned lessons that we must share

with the international community as a part of our

humanitarian duty. We owe it to ourselves and to our

children. That is why my Government intends to propose

for the favourable consideration of this Assembly a set of

basic tenets of humanitarian action in emergency situations.

The purpose is neither to duplicate nor to downgrade the

ongoing efforts, but rather to supplement what exists and to

enhance awareness of the need to adjust international norms

and practices to new realities. We trust that all Member

States will join us in this effort so that, together, we are

able to contribute to the development of a new international

humanitarian order.