Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2001

I am

grateful for the opportunity to address the General

Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. I would like to

extend my warmest congratulations to you, Sir, on your

well-deserved election.

I would like to join those who spoke before me in

expressing my deep condolences to the people of the

United States. The date of 11 September will be forever

inscribed in our minds and hearts as the symbol of the

most blatant affront to civilization and commonly

accepted values. Regardless of the brutality of the

terrorist attacks directed against innocent civilians,

however, they failed in the attempt to polarize the

world and to undermine the very foundations of our

societies. Those attacks were attacks against all of us,

too. We therefore fully support the approach outlined

yesterday morning by President Bush.

Yes, the fight against all kinds of terrorism must

be determined and precise. It has to target terrorists,

who must be apprehended and brought to justice. At

the same time, we have to do much more when we are

talking about quick and massive help to the innocent

civilians of Afghanistan.

I would like to use this opportunity to recall that

my country promptly and resolutely joined the

worldwide coalition against terrorism. And I am

convinced that, by adopting such a clear position, my

country is a part of the solution, rather than a part of

the problem, in this particular field. I spoke about this

more extensively in this same Hall two days ago on the

occasion of the meeting devoted to the dialogue among

civilizations.

Coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which

was treated by various kinds of fundamentalists and

radicals as a problematic and questionable Balkan

country because of its multi-ethnic and multicultural

nature, I am especially sensitive to the type of

terrorism that misuses religious feelings and, in so

doing, jeopardizes local societies and global society.

The war against terrorists is justified, but all of us

will be losers if we fail to do everything we can to help

the innocent people who are suffering today. Our

experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina teaches us that

military intervention, even when complemented by

humanitarian assistance, is not enough for a

sustainable, long-lasting solution.

At the same time, we — and when I say “we”, I

mean the international community speaking with one

voice, together with local democratic forces, regardless

of their current strength — have to have a clear vision

of a political solution, accompanied by a programme

for social and economic development, once the military

intervention is over. Only such a comprehensive

approach — military, humanitarian, political and socio-

economic — will leave no room for the terrorists to

interpret the intervention in Afghanistan as a war

against Islam or as a symbol of the clash of

civilizations.

The terrorists will lose. Without a comprehensive

approach, we might be losers, too, by the measure of

ethical and universal human values. That is why we

have to tackle these areas of future action together,

starting today.

At a time when humanity has reached for the

highest objectives but also carried out the worst deeds,

there should be no doubt that the United Nations can

fulfil its new tasks, confronting old and new

challenges, leading in the building of a prosperous

world founded no longer on force but on the rule of

law, not on a balance of power but on a balance of

cooperation.

The contribution of the international community

in achieving progress in my country, Bosnia and

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Herzegovina, was particularly visible in the role of the

United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

the Stabilization Force, the United Nations High

Representative, the Peace Implementation Council, the

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

and other members of the family of the international

community present in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We particularly recognize and value the role of

the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

in police reform and the substantial upgrading of the

judicial system. The United Nations family of

organizations was certainly one of the key players in

the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a

multiethnic, tolerant and democratic State.

Knowing that the mandate of the United Nations

Mission in the present form will terminate by the end

of 2002, we expect the United Nations mission

activities to continue in a different form. However, we

would like to see a smooth transition without any

interruption in these extremely important activities.

The noble goals and accomplishments of our

Organization were honoured recently, and I would like

to extend sincere and heartiest congratulations to the

Secretary-General and the whole of the United Nations

for the recognition by the Nobel Peace Prize

Committee.

I would like to inform the Assembly that we have

decided to present candidature of Bosnia and

Herzegovina for a non-permanent seat in the Security

Council for the year 2010. We are convinced that by

doing so, we confirm our commitment to contributing

fully to the work of the United Nations. It would also

be a clear sign of advanced stability and normalization

of life in our country, and particularly of our

commitment to economic and democratic development.

Therefore, we hope that as early as in 10 years from

now, Bosnia and Herzegovina will succeed in

becoming a member of the most important political

body of the United Nations.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are working daily

to live up to the vision of a safer and more peaceful,

stable and self-sustaining country. Our efforts are

directed toward three main sets of priorities.

First is the rule of law, through the speedy

implementation of the latest Constitutional Court

decisions and through proper judiciary and police

actions fighting terrorism and organized crime,

combating corruption, arresting indicted war criminals

and creating a stable environment for the return of

refugees.

Second are the further building and strengthening

of the State’s institutions.

Third are economic reforms directed to the

strengthening of economic activities; establishment of

a single economic space; and setting up the conditions

for upgraded education, thus offering a choice for our

young generations to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina

and become an inseparable factor in its development

and future.

Of course, implementation of the Dayton/Paris

Peace Agreement and the continuous adjustment and

upgrading of our legal framework according to

European standards are the foundation of activities of

the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels.

Once again, I would like to express the gratitude

of my Government to the international community for

its devoted support of the enduring stability and

development of my country. We are determined to

move from the position of a patient or passive recipient

of aid from international organizations and institutions

to one of a partner in and contributor to international

efforts. We have to go through the process of being

first a recipient and then a partner in order to finally

become the owner of the changes in our country.

We are aware that responsibility for healing the

consequences of the war and post-war stagnation, and

for the removal of impediments to faster stabilization

and progress, rest primarily with the political

leadership in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The future of

Bosnia and Herzegovina is in its integration into

European and North Atlantic organizations. The

establishment of contractual relations with the

European Union through the stabilization and

association process is one of the priority strategic goals

of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further improvement of

good relations with neighbouring countries and

increased regional cooperation remain key elements for

the stability and development of Bosnia and

Herzegovina and the region.

Relations with the Republic of Croatia since the

democratic changes in January last year are improving

every day, in every sense.

As a result of the democratic changes last year in

the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and

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Herzegovina has established full diplomatic relations

with that country, which opened the official channels of

the two countries to deal with a number of important

matters.

However, a number of issues that burdened

relations between the neighbouring countries are still

on the agenda. Some of them have already been solved

in bilateral meetings, but we are looking forward to

tackling them more actively.

Today is exactly one year since the people of

Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the first time in 10 years

of being driven by nationalism, gave less than 50

percent of their votes to three major ethnic parties. It

took us almost four months to establish the new,

democratic, multi-ethnic, Europe-oriented Government

that is now in place. We believe that we are on the way

to striking a proper balance between the necessary

assistance of the international community and further

decision-making by ourselves.

Finally, I can assure you today that our country

has a leadership with a clear vision and is ready to act

accordingly. For years, Bosnia and Herzegovina was

one of the world’s international and regional problems.

Today, my country is becoming one of the solutions.

With this conviction, we are looking at the important

challenges and tremendous tasks that are still ahead of

us. We must confront them without delay. I am

standing here to say we will do it.