Bećirović at the Peace Summit in Switzerland: Learn from Sarajevo – Save Kyiv!

(Patria) – Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović addressed the Peace Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held yesterday and today in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Bećirović's speech can be read in full below.

"Your Excellencies,

First of all, I wish to thank Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, for taking on the role of host and for the excellent organization of this important summit.

Support for Ukraine means support for the protection of international law and the fundamental principles on which the civilized world is based.

The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a victim of brutal aggression from 1992 to 1995, fully understands the suffering and hardship of the citizens of Ukraine.



Unfortunately, Europe is once again facing a policy of territorial expansionism.

The ultimate goal of the aggressive wars against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine is the same – territorial expansion.

That is why one of the messages from my country was: 'Learn from Sarajevo – save Kyiv!'

I believe that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine has no alternative. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has caused terrible consequences over the past 28 months.

After the start of the Russian aggression, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the positions of the EU and firmly expressed support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

My country regularly joins statements, initiatives and decisions in international organizations that condemn Russian aggression.

The free world, among other things, has two important tasks. First, to help the people of Ukraine defend their state. Second, not to allow Russia to provoke a new war on the European continent and thus divert attention from the aggression against Ukraine.

Let us not forget, these two tasks are connected. Because of this, I must warn that pro-Russian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina threaten peace.

The authorities of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity Republika Srpska, with open support from Russia, threaten the Dayton Peace Agreement and endanger the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

Therefore, I call on the free world to help Ukraine even more strongly, but also to prevent the destabilization of the Western Balkans.

We in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from personal experience, know that achieving peace is a complicated and difficult process.

It requires strong will, perseverance, reason, and the engagement of a wide range of actors. In this sense, I support the basic intention and goals of this summit.



Europe and the world must strongly show that Ukraine is not alone in its fight for freedom. Solidarity with Ukraine today is more important than ever.

For Ukraine to win, solidarity must overcome state egoism. Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to show solidarity with Ukraine.

We want the war in Ukraine to stop, a just peace to be achieved, and hope to be restored to millions of people that they can live in peace," Bećirović said.