British message from the UN podium: Bonn powers essential, NATO path is the citizens' wish

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - There are leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina who will do everything to stop BiH on its path to becoming a prosperous and normal country, stated the Permanent Representative of Great Britain during her speech at the UN, Karen Pierce. 

“We have a different view on the importance of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) than the one presented by the Russian representative. We believe that the OHR continues to play a vital role in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has the full support of the United Kingdom, including, as other countries have stated during the roundtable, the use of Bonn powers if and when the situation requires it,” Pierce stated. 

The Permanent British Representative says the reason for the OHR's continued existence is obvious. 

“There are some people, including some leaders in BiH, who want to do everything they can to stop BiH from becoming a prosperous and normal country. Dayton requires Bosnia to be an independent state with two entities – the Federation and Republika Srpska. However, it does not place the entities above the state, and therefore, as long as there are leaders in Bosnia who refuse to acknowledge or who work against this very important aspect of BiH statehood established in Dayton, codified by this Council, and implemented over many years through the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, as long as this antagonistic approach towards BiH as a state continues, the OHR and Bonn powers will remain necessary. Therefore, I want to emphasize the very firm support of the United Kingdom for you, Mr. High Representative, and your team,” Pierce stated resolutely..

She added that the UK joins the support for the unanimous adoption of the resolution authorizing the European Union to continue Operation Althea for another 12 months. 

“This demonstrates the continued commitment of the international community to the security and stability of BiH,” she said.

Continuing her speech, Pierce stated: “As I understand it, there are certain laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina that codify Euro-Atlantic integration, both in terms of the European Union and NATO. Certainly, there are such resolutions of this council, as well as numerous decisions of the Peace Implementation Council and the Steering Board. And the will of the people of BiH has never been nullified by law. Although leaders may oppose it because they have changed their minds or it does not suit their political rhetoric, the laws and decisions made by BiH, supported by the international community, indicate that BiH wants to follow this Euro-Atlantic path. And these are battles that should be fought democratically, not undemocratically through polemics and demagoguery,” the Permanent British Representative to the UN stated.

She recalled that about 30 years ago, Bosnia and Herzegovina was discussed as a major problem in the UN Security Council. 

“Our predecessors made many resolutions day after day to try to stop the conflicts and restore stability and peace to that country. The war lasted for four terrible years and forever changed the way the UN would keep the peace. As we heard today, the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 claimed the lives of nine thousand Muslim men and children – the worst massacre in Europe since 1945. These are not insignificant events for Europe, for Bosnia, or for the Balkans. And the reason the International Criminal Court was formed was precisely to prosecute those responsible for these crimes,” Pierce emphasized.

The British representative also highlighted the importance of the rule of law for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

“I am not giving up on Bosnia. I have been dealing with the Balkans since 1991. We will not fall into despair, because if we do in the case of Bosnia, it essentially means that the bad guys have won. And we will not allow that. You can count on the United Kingdom and on our transatlantic institutions to continue to assist Bosnia and all its citizens,” Pierce concluded.