The Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Zlatko Lagumdžija, handed over letters of credence to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
On that occasion, Ambassador Lagumdžija stated that it is a special honor for him to serve as the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN, especially considering the global challenges and changes we are currently facing. He added that we live in a time when the strength and importance of multilateralism and the UN as the most important multilateral organization are being questioned, as well as peace, stability and the necessary acceleration of the Western Balkans on the Euro-Atlantic path, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
Lagumdžija, as stated, pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue with its constructive contribution to support and strengthen the work of the UN in all fields, especially in the area of achieving the goals of sustainable development, building peace and suppressing violent extremism and hate speech.
The statement added that Lagumdžija used the opportunity to inform Guterres about the current events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially about the serious threat to peace, security and the foundations of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the most serious since its signing. He emphasized that this requires a resolute insistence on respecting international law and the action of the international community in protecting the institutional strengthening of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Secretary General Guterres said that he is following the events in the Balkans with great attention and cited UN’s unquestionable support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH. He reiterated his willingness to contribute to the acceleration of the reconciliation process and the intensification of the implementation of sustainable development goals through his personal engagement, and certainly through a more active role of the UN Secretariat.
On this occasion, Guterres expressed his intention to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to personally pay tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica, the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.