Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2003

It is my great pleasure and

honour to address the General Assembly at its fifty-

eighth session. At the outset, allow me, Sir, to extend

my sincere congratulations on your election and to

wish you every success in presiding over the Assembly

at this session.

Even though we entered the new millennium with

clear resolve to work for a better future, sharing a

vision of global solidarity and common security, which

we expressed in the Millennium Declaration, we are

witnessing an increase in tragic events, which occur

almost daily. The tragedy that took place on 19 August

in Baghdad is forcing us to reconsider the true

accomplishments and values of civilization today and

to re-examine the connections between poverty,

development, self-sustainability, respect for human

rights and the quest for true progress, as enshrined in

the United Nations Charter.

Fully aware of all the global challenges facing us,

we must prepare for a long and exhausting

campaign working step by step and tackling one

problem at a time for poverty reduction and the

development of underdeveloped countries, and against

the scourge of terrorism, organized crime and the

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, wherever

such threats arise.

The world is yet again faced with new challenges.

The United Nations have yet again to make crucial

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decisions in response to them. Poverty, weapons

proliferation and AIDS are among the most

destabilizing factors on the international scene, as is

terrorism. I am sincerely convinced, therefore, that this

year's debate on all these issues, especially on the issue

of terrorism, will pave the way towards a consensus

among Member States on the specific measures to be

taken and thus invest the United Nations with new

authority, which is so urgently needed to counter

threats to international peace, health, stability and

collective security.

Allow me to take this opportunity to stress the

importance of dialogue to resolve the most pressing

issues of today. Dialogue is essential and, it goes

without saying, only possible among those who are

ready for it. Dialogue based on mutual respect

represents a key instrument for the improvement of

relations and cooperation among peoples and countries.

It is a fundamental condition for the successful

outcome of negotiations and reconciliation of

differences to reach decisions that are acceptable to all

sides.

We in Bosnia and Herzegovina have learned the

value of dialogue the hard way. Consider our recent

past, during which the lack of dialogue caused

misunderstanding, conflicts and hostilities that resulted

in the tragic loss of human life, the exodus of young

people and the devastation of the economy over the

past decade. The entire international community not

only witnessed this tragedy but was called on to be

actively involved to overcome it.

I can only feel proud that I am addressing the

Assembly today as the head of State of Bosnia and

Herzegovina, which the international community no

longer views as a crisis area. Rather, it has become a

State that actively participates in stabilization

processes in the region and throughout the world. From

the Central European Initiative and the South East

European Cooperation Process to United Nations

peacekeeping operations, Bosnia and Herzegovina is

contributing to regional, European and world peace and

prosperity. At the same time, committed to reforms, we

strive to lay the ground for overcoming the aftermath

of recent conflicts and are devoted to respect for the

human rights of all individuals and peoples, as well as

their cultural, religious and other diversities.

I would like to point out that the authorities of

Bosnia and Herzegovina are giving priority to

advancing the political and economic stability of the

country and enhancing its international role through the

implementation of planned reforms. I am convinced

that we in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership-like

cooperation with the High Representative and other

representatives of the United Nations and international

institutions, will find the best solutions for the

implementation of reforms and the most adequate legal

solutions for the realization of a faster economic

development of the country and the creation of real

chances for the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina

into the European Union.

In the process of Bosnia and Herzegovina's

accession to European integration, we have just

completed discussions with the European Commission

(EC) within the framework of the feasibility study.

Working on the EC's tasks has been a positive

experience in building partnerships with the

international community. We are now entering a new

phase with full confidence, convinced that the initiated

process will result in the final fulfilment of all

conditions for membership in the European Union

(EU). This comes as a result of the decision of the

Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to take their

destiny into their own hands and to respond to major

challenges such as the fight against organized crime

and corruption, the strengthening of institutions,

conducting legal system reforms, implementation of

structural reforms and reduction of the unemployment

rate.

We are committed to following the path of proven

success strategies in order to overcome as soon as

possible our difficult heritage from the past and to start

building, with mutual understanding, a modern Bosnia

and Herzegovina. Only in this way may we pass on to

future generations the message of worldwide peace and

development, based on mutual understanding and

tolerance.

This year Bosnia and Herzegovina took over the

chairmanship of the South East European Cooperation

Process. We are content with the positive steps taken,

both in the stabilization and in the overall development

of the Balkan region and integration of the Western

Balkans into the Euro-Atlantic structures. I am pleased

that mutually harmonized agreements and joint

priorities are being fully supported by the EU, by the

Stability Pact, by many friendly countries in the world

and by international financial and other organizations. I

am all the more pleased in view of the fact that the

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countries of the region confirm their readiness and

commitments to mutual cooperation and the building of

good neighbourly and regional relations.

I must stress the fact that there are still many

open issues and incomplete tasks in Bosnia and

Herzegovina. I am convinced that Bosnia and

Herzegovina will succeed in the process of

strengthening joint institutions and in establishing a

strong legal framework. We are committed to fulfil all

Bosnia and Herzegovina's international obligations,

particularly those related to cooperation with the

International Criminal Tribunal for the former

Yugoslavia, participation in the world's fight against

organized crime, respect of human rights, return of

refugees and displaced persons, full implementation of

property laws and the return of property to its rightful

owners.

Our absolute priority is the fight against terrorism

and organized crime, and, at the international level, we

are of the view that the United Nations and the Security

Council should play the leading role in that fight.

Together with other countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina

intends to actively tackle this issue, which represents a

threat to the entire civilized world. Fully committed to

this fight, we in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the

assistance of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and

Herzegovina, which successfully completed its mission

last December, have established one of the most

modern state border services. In addition, we have

improved the legal framework and we are fighting

actively against the trafficking of women and children,

this modern form of slavery. Our efforts have recently

been recognized by the United States Government, and

as result, we have been moved to category B.

The issue of missing persons is particularly

sensitive and difficult for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We

have to make additional efforts, with the assistance of

the international community, to at least give the

opportunity to grieving families to discover the

whereabouts of their loved ones, what happened to

them, where they were buried, and to identify their

remains and lay them to rest with dignity.

Allow me to point out that Bosnia and

Herzegovina is now a much better place for business

than it was a year ago, due to the reforms completed

during this year in particular. I would like to mention

the example of the Bulldozer Committee that redrafted

50 laws and regulations that were discouraging private

initiative and suffocating any sense for business.

Having created a more favourable legal framework and

business environment, Bosnia and Herzegovina has

become a better place for investment opportunities and

employment.

Nevertheless, we must not lie back, we must

further accelerate the process of economic reforms.

The continuation of the privatization process and

further reforms of the judicial system are of utmost

importance for creating a more secure business

environment in order to open the country to direct

foreign investments.

We are in the process of rearranging and

simplifying the tax system through the establishment of

a single custom system and a value-added tax, thus

eliminating corruption and white-collar crime. In order

to encourage the entire process of the creation of an

investment-friendly environment in Bosnia and

Herzegovina, in February 2004 we will be hosting an

international investment conference in Mostar, where

we will present the new economic situation in Bosnia

and Herzegovina.

Furthermore, particularly during recent days, we

have been finalizing the reforms of the armed forces

and the State intelligence service, having realized that a

modern security system is a pre-condition for Bosnia

and Herzegovina's full participation in common

security arrangements, through membership in the

Partnership for Peace and the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization.

At this moment we attach paramount importance

to reforms and the modernization of the educational

system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is our firm belief

that, by caring for the individual and by ensuring the

collective right to get an education in one's own

language and alphabet, we will enhance mutual

dialogue and tolerance, in order to preserve the

multicultural society of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Next year we also plan to finalize the

reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, where we

are planning once again to celebrate the reunion of

both banks of the river and its people. This is our way

of sending a global message to all civilizations: this

bridge is built of versatile cultural materials, it is an

alloy of various traditions and it is the paradigm of a

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solution that is possible and evident despite the

conflicts and differences in the world. I hereby invite

you to make use of this opportunity and make this

bridge a symbol of unity for the next year.

Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were held

almost a year ago. This time, the international

community fully supported the election results. The

international community expressed its readiness to

support democratic processes in Bosnia and

Herzegovina and we, the elected authorities, have made

our choice through reforms that have as their aim a

modern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We are committed to taking ownership, to bearing

more responsibilities. During his 16 months in office,

the High Representative imposed in the first eight

months twice as many laws as he did in the second. We

are pleased to note the trend of reduction of imposed

laws this year, but our ultimate goal is a Bosnia and

Herzegovina that is a member of the EU. This Bosnia

and Herzegovina has its destiny in the hands of its own

citizens and is on the road of no return towards

European integration, with more power in the engine of

its own institutions and less power in the tow truck of

the United Nations High Representative. Above all,

this Bosnia and Herzegovina has a constitution cut out

to the measure of its peoples and to each and every

citizen.

Allow me to conclude by looking into the future.

We have presented our candidature for membership in

the Security Council for 2010, reaffirming our

commitment to build a State that may share its positive

experience and participate actively in the world's

peace-building, by that time, we hope, within the

system of a reformed and reinvigorated United Nations.

We are already participating in the United Nations

peacekeeping operations in Ethiopia and Eritrea, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Timor-Leste.

We are ready to send our transport unit, military

observers and civilian police officers to Liberia.

By the year 2009, we are planning to fulfil the

conditions set forth for EU membership, fully

committed to the development of Bosnia and

Herzegovina based on stability, the rule of law,

democracy and a market economy. We are gradually

becoming recognized for our implementation of

democratic and economic reforms and for harmonizing

our priorities with international standards. Next year,

from 15 to 17 May 2004 in Sarajevo, we are planning

to host the Second Intergovernmental Conference for

Children in Europe and Central Asia, together with the

Government of Germany and the United Nations

Children's Fund. The Conference is the continuation of

regional consultations held in Berlin in 2001, and the

2002 General Assembly special session devoted to

children.

Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sustainable

State, albeit with the generous contributions and

assistance from the international community, the

United Nations and its most prominent leading figures,

including the late Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, who will

be remembered in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the head

of Civil Affairs of the United Nations mission. We

remain ever so grateful to those who lent us their hands

in times of need and despair.

Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a State well on

its way to being part of Europe, with the ambition to

create an environment where the return of refugees and

displaced persons will not be halted for political or

economic reasons, but will be encouraged for reasons

of economic prosperity and sustainability that will be

achieved through the efforts of all of us.