OSCE and UN Mark 30 Years of Partnership in BiH

(Patria) - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations (UN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina have marked 30 years of partnership in this country. Through mutual cooperation, the UN and OSCE have been supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina and its progress from the time of conflict towards a more stable, secure and prosperous country for all citizens.

Formal cooperation was established in the spring of 1993 and continued after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the establishment of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. The first areas of cooperation included providing support for the return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons, property restitution, educational reform, strengthening local governance, arms control, war crimes processing, and providing support for transitional justice and judicial reform.

"We greatly value the cooperation we have had with the representatives of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past 30 years," emphasized Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Both our organizations remain firmly committed to supporting fundamental rights and freedoms, strong rule of law, accountable governance, and the work of actors and communities dedicated to building and maintaining peace."

In recent years, the United Nations and the OSCE have increased their efforts and support aimed at strengthening mutual trust, understanding and dignity across the country through close cooperation with civil society organizations, students, war veterans, religious communities, cultural institutions, women and youth, and with local "peace champions." The UN and OSCE also cooperate with municipal and city administrations, supporting inter-municipal and inter-entity cooperation.

"Despite the continued incendiary and divisive rhetoric at the highest level of leadership, we are witnessing a strong desire expressed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina for this country to move forward towards a future based on shared aspirations and respect for diversity. We see people and leaders cooperating in the fields of business and economy, culture and arts, science and technology, environmental protection, and in sports and tourism. We want to draw more attention to and increase support for these positive activities and champions in communities," stated Ingrid Macdonald, UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of these activities, the UN and OSCE, together with the Council of Europe and the European Union, launched the initiative "We Can Do Better: Strengthening Trust and Cohesion in Communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina" in September 2022.

The project provides support to local governments, civil society and other actors in rebuilding trust, understanding and constructive dialogue with and among communities, while emphasizing positive stories from across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"There is great interest in this new project throughout the country," added Ambassador Aggeler. "Cooperation on the ground between UN and OSCE staff members working in our field offices is of immense importance for identifying partners to work with and designing projects that will have both immediate impact and long-lasting results."

In the area of our work with youth in BiH, the OSCE and UN recently joined forces and supported the creation of the publication 'The Peace Young People Want to Build in Bosnia and Herzegovina'. The publication is also a way to promote the priorities of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who show that, regardless of their background, they share the same basic principles and aspirations.

"The United Nations and the OSCE are fully ready to continue cooperating with everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina who wants to promote a more prosperous, inclusive, fairer and sustainable country where people want to stay or return to, rather than leave it," concluded UN Resident Coordinator Macdonald.