Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, told the 15-member body that the impasse resulted from two confusions. The first was the confusion in the Republika Srpska over its own nature and that of the State as a whole, while the other was confusion in both entities over the proper focus and functioning of politics and the State as a system.
The Republika Srpska leadership had failed to grasp that State and entity authorities had separate and clearly defined mandates, and each must work without interference from the other, said the High Representative. At the same time, a number of political leaders in the Federation advocated an unbalanced, larger role for the State, which also impeded progress.
He commended the Security Council for its decision last week to approve the extension of the mandate of the European Union stabilization force (EUFOR) entrusted with ensuring continued compliance by all sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the ethnic war there.
He noted that the Council"s action served as a guarantee to citizens that the international community would not tolerate the possibility of a return to violence.
"The country is now at a crossroads and the political leaders will now need to decide whether they are ready to fulfil the necessary conditions which would help them move forward on Euro-Atlantic integration and whether they are ready to address the conditions needed for the closure of the Office of the High Representative," he said.
"Let us remember that Bosnians and Herzegovinians have shown resilience, creativity and fortitude in the past. With their help I know that we can end the present impasse and move ahead."
Source: UN News
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