Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2014

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.