The people of Bosnia have a right to jobs, education, and healthcare. Failure to take difficult decisions is hitting Bosnian citizens unfairly and having a serious impact on the country’s path to EU. The UK is a great friend of this country and we stand ready to help in any way we can.”
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague paid a two day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 27 and 28 March 2014. He met three BiH Presidency members; Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Dr Zlatko Lagumdzija; EU Special Representative/Head of the EU Delegation Peter Sorensen; a group of citizens engaged in the work of the Mostar, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Zenica plenums and members of civil society organisations.
William Hague urged Bosnian leaders to move beyond the failed and stagnant politics of recent years and focus on issues and reforms which matter to people’s daily lives and to Bosnia’s progress towards the EU and NATO.
William Hague said:
“I am delighted to be in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the third time as Foreign Secretary. Peace has been achieved, but there is still a great deal that remains to be done. I remain fully committed to helping Bosnia build its prosperity and stability, and move forward towards the EU and NATO.
It is always an uplifting experience to meet talented young Bosnians and civil society representatives, as I did last night. This is a country that can have a great future, if the strengths of all its people are drawn on fully in a strong democratic environment in which they can flourish.
As a friend of Bosnia we are concerned about Bosnia’s inability to make progress towards the EU and NATO in recent years, and the negative impact this has had on society and the economy in Bosnia.
I hope the coming elections will be about how Bosnia is able to overcome these problems. This is an opportunity for Bosnia to make choices that enable progress towards Europe and increased prosperity, for new faces to come forward and for voters to signal their priorities to leaders through the ballot box. It’s an opportunity for BiH’s population to hold leaders to account for the lack of reform, and to signal their desire for change. Leaders have the chance to move beyond narrow party and personal interests and work together to deliver on the things that really matter.
The recent protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrate the deep frustration felt by the people at the failure of the country’s leaders to address key socio-economic issues and tackle widespread corruption. These are legitimate protests about issues which matter to ordinary Bosnians: jobs, education, and healthcare. Failure to move on this is hitting ordinary citizens and having a serious impact on Bosnia’s path towards the EU.
In my conversations here with leaders I emphasised the importance of listening to the people, responding to calls for change and taking concrete actions. The International Community will give full support to Bosnian partners who genuinely commit to reform.”
This morning William Hague also officially opened the new premises of the British Embassy in Sarajevo. “I am delighted to announce that today we are raising the Union flag to mark the formal opening of a new British Embassy in Sarajevo. Today’s opening is evidence of the UK government’s commitment to work with Bosnia and Herzegovina, to deliver on a more prosperous and secure future for the whole of this country,” said William Hague.
