Statement by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at the open VTC of UNSC members on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mme. President,
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton Agreement). As one of Dayton’s guarantors, Russia fully supports the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of BaH, equality of the three constituent peoples and the two entities with broad authorities. In the year of Dayton’s 25th anniversary, we call upon our partners in the Council to make an unambiguous statement to support these provisions. The document, which is fundamental for BaH, has remained relevant ever since it was signed in 1995. It envisages administrative arrangements and the balance of interests of the three peoples, which are quite effective when properly observed. The striving to ruin this system may entail dangerous consequences not only for the Balkans, but for Europe at large.
Mme. President,
The situation in BaH is quite stable, it poses no threat to the international and regional peace and security. At the same time, inter-ethnic relations show a negative dynamic. The level of trust and quality of internal political dialogue have stepped down. In the first place, it has to do with the fact that some Bosnian actors have aspired to reform the Dayton architecture to make the state more centralized and unitary. Some international stakeholders support this process. No imposed political paradigms can serve as a ground for ruining the balance of ethnic interests, enshrined in the Agreement. The effective order can only be changed if the three peoples and the two entities make an equitable agreement without external interference.
Mme. President,
The peoples of BaH determine their domestic and foreign agenda by themselves. The responsibility for the situation in the country fully rests on the local authorities in accordance with the concept of local ownership, which we assume the global community still shares. Therefore, approaches to reforming electoral legislation and judicial system (the aspects that are crucial for BaH) must account for the interests of all peoples of the country.
In view of pending municipal elections in BaH on 15 November (on 20 December in Mostar), we hope that the vote will be held in a calm environment and in full accordance with the effective rules. We call on all those involved, including the Central Electoral Commission, to stick to a responsible approach and act in the interests of all peoples of the country.
The global community needs to keep an open mind when evaluating the developments in BaH; proceed from the real state of affairs rather than projection of their own policies; respect the justified aspirations of all peoples of the country; and refrain from exerting pressure on their legitimate representatives. In terms of the international law, use of unilateral sanctions as a political tool is unacceptable. We count on unification of constructive international efforts in order to promote national reconciliation in BaH.
We regret that High Representative Inzko’s report yet again, for the 24th time in a row, portrays the state of affairs in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a very subjective and far-from-reality manner. The High Representative clearly seeks to allocate the responsibility for failures of enter-ethnic reconciliation to Bosnian Serbs and Croats. Without any clear reason for that, they are depicted as “violators” of Dayton. The HR is eager to scare the international community with prospects of a collapse of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while ignoring the real situation in the country.
Members of the Security Council can acquaint themselves with a very worthful alternative viewpoint, presented in the report of the government of Rupublika Srpska.
Once again, we have to recommend to the HR to take efforts aimed at making the document more balanced and objective in the future, and refrain from extensive interpretation of his mandate, in particular with regard to the Euro-Atlantic agenda. We remind that BaH’s cooperation with NATO lies beyond OHR’s scope of action, but, as per the division of powers, falls within the area where BaH authorities should operate themselves, with due account for the opinions of the entities and the three constituent peoples.
Tendentious and biased assessments of the situation in BaH presented by High Commissioner Inzko only prove to us that there is no added value in preserving this mechanism of international protectorate over sovereign and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. Time has come to readdress the conditions and criteria for OHR closure. We suggest exchanging opinions on this issue during the session of Peace Implementation Council Steering Board scheduled for 1-2 December.
We believe complaints of the High Representative about the OHR staff reduction and financing cuts are unfounded. The role of the global community in BaH have changed dramatically, the concept of local ownership does not imply any external interference in local affairs, any kind of OHR special toolkit is out of question. OHR staff and financing should continue to downsize.
Mme. President,
Russia intends to further promote implementation of the Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which still has a great positive potential; and enhance constructive bilateral cooperation with all peoples of this country. BaH has every chance to become a zone of successful political, economic and cultural interaction of a wide range of stakeholders.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, we are planning to convene an “Arria-formula” meeting of UNSC members, which will give the floor to legitimate representatives of all three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We expect this event to give an opportunity to better understand the true meaning of the Agreement, the importance of its full implementation in the context of current domestic situation in BaH, assess the political and historical relevance of Dayton for both BaH and the Balkans at large.
Thank you.
In response to the Permanent Representative of Germany:
Mme. President,
To be frank, I do not quite understand what part of my statement surprised my German colleague so much. Our position on the activity of the OHR is very consistent, and it is not the first time that we expressed it. In my opinion, today we put it very mildly as compared to other statements. We are convinced that the Office of the High Representative has outlived its usefulness, it does not promote the country’s development, but impedes it in many respects. That is why we have long raised an issue of step-by-step closure of the OHR. I think the Steering Board will address it at its session on 1-2 December.
As for bias and misbalance, I would recommend to my German colleague not only to listen to statements by the High Representative, but also read the report he prepared for this briefing. Then it will be clear what gave us reason to speak of misbalanced assessments contained in HR reports. I am glad that my German colleague made a point that it is unacceptable to glorify war criminals. I would very much appreciate if he were just as consistent with regard to some of his colleagues in the European Union and those willing to become its part. I mean the countries that are home to clear undisguised glorification of collaborators and war criminals. For some reason, neither our EU colleagues, nor, in particular, the German colleague pay attention to this.
Thank you.
In response to the statement by the High Representative for BaH:
I thank High Representative Inzko for his comments. I would like to make a clear point: our criticism of the Office of the High Representative is not criticism of the High Representative personally, but rather of the role that we think the OHR plays in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
No one argues that the country encounters problems. We spoke of this in our statement. The question is – what are the roots of those problems? Of course, we can dig into history to recall how it all started and what it ended with. By all means, Dayton was a breakthrough that prevented the worst-case scenario. But now it is time for BaH to alight on its feet and walk the path of development, every prerequisite for it being in place. We only request the High Representative to make sure that his role in this process does not create conditions that cause challenges, inflate tension, and raise questions with entities that are criticized most – Serbs and Croats.
As for the reports, there is no problem about it. There are precedents when institutions, which are non-state formations, share some assessments with the Security Council. It is normal practice, especially since Republika Serpska is a side to the Dayton Agreements and has a right to express its viewpoint on what is going on in the Federation. These assessments are worth proper consideration.
As you might have noticed, we have proposed an “Arria-formula” event on the occasion of Dayton’s 25th anniversary. There is a reason for it: the Security Council often discusses the BaH file, but those sessions mostly provide a “well-rounded” assessment of developments in the country. Whereas the developments are quite numerous, many of them raising concern on either side. I believe it would be right to give the floor to the representatives of the entities, the three constituent peoples, so that they could present their assessments in the Security Council. This is the reason why we will be holding a specialized “Arria-formula” meeting, the date of which will be announced later.
Thank you.
