Speaking from Sarajevo this morning on her visit with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, Angelina Jolie said:
“It is wonderful to be back in Bosnia. This country will always be close to my heart. I have huge respect for what Bosnia has been through and the extraordinary resilience of its people.
But I am also concerned by signs that progress in Bosnia has stalled.
At this moment more than ever Bosnia needs leaders ready to work on behalf of every citizen of the country, in a way that is also able to unlock more international support.
I have great faith in Bosnia and the ability of Bosnians to overcome their challenges. And I welcome the surge in the voices of young Bosnians asking their government to tackle fundamental issues. But we all need to be alive to the danger of Bosnia sliding back and take that risk seriously, recognising that it is a dangerous moment for the country. I would like to see Bosnian and international leaders treating this with much greater urgency.
It is in the vital interests of the international community, and especially of European nations, that Bosnia is helped to grow into the country it needs to be, and is able to join the European Union. This means urgent action to strengthen Bosnia’s democratic institutions, to create opportunities for young people, and to break the political stalemate holding back the country’s development. The country is very much ready to be united if the people have a chance, and they need their leaders to help them.”
