Lendo: Without peace there is no progress, and without integration there is no security; it is up to us to connect these two – wisely, bravely, and responsibly

(Patria) - FBiH Vice President Refik Lendo addressed the formal opening of the two-day international conference "Peace as a Foundation, Integration as the Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans".

In his address, he emphasized that peace and integration are two key words for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He recalled that the Dayton Peace Agreement stopped the war three decades ago and provided a framework from which the state was rebuilt, but that this framework must now be upgraded with democratic, constitutional, and institutional reforms that will make BiH a functional, just, and European state.

He stated that peace is not just the absence of war, but also responsible politics, the rule of law, trust among people, and respect for diversity, and warned that even today, 30 years after Dayton, attempts to undermine institutions and challenge the state's sovereignty are being recorded.

He stressed that such challenges must be met with unity, decisiveness, and dignity – by strengthening institutions and taking a secure step towards the European Union and NATO.

Speaking about reform processes, Lendo emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina faces substantive, not technical, obligations: strengthening an independent judiciary, fighting corruption, reforming public administration, faster economic development, and ensuring full equality for all citizens in every part of the country.

- These are the foundations of a modern European Bosnia and Herzegovina - Lendo said.

He also touched upon the role of the international community, emphasizing that Bosnia and Herzegovina would not have reached its current level of stability without the strong and continuous support of the European Union, NATO, the OHR, and international missions that contributed to the reconstruction of institutions, the security sector, and economic recovery.

He added that such support is still necessary until Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes a full member of the EU and NATO.

In the context of regional relations, Lendo highlighted that relations with Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro are of crucial importance for the stability of the Western Balkans, and stressed that they must be built on mutual respect, non-interference in internal processes, and principles of sincere good neighborliness.

He expressed special gratitude to the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina for three decades of dedicated work in promoting European values, emphasizing that this organization continuously contributes to building Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path and raising awareness of the importance of European integration.

At the end of his address, Lendo emphasized that peace is the foundation of all progress, and that European integration is the path to lasting stability and security for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He stressed that it is the shared responsibility of institutions and society to connect these values into a clear and unified vision for the country's future.

- Without peace there is no progress, and without integration there is no security. It is up to us to connect these two – wisely, bravely, and responsibly – in the name of citizens who want to live in an orderly, just, and European Bosnia and Herzegovina - Lendo stated.

The conference is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement and three decades of the Pan-European Union of BiH, organized by the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brotherhood Foundation, at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.