Виступ делегації України на дебатах РБ ООН щодо ситуації в Боснії та Герцеговині

Check against delivery

Mr. President,

It is our pleasure to welcome High Representative Valentin Inzko back to the Security Council, and thank him for his comprehensive briefing and report.

Since it’s my first statement on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina after Ukraine assumed its non-permanent membership in the Council, I would like to assure you of our full support for your activities as High Representative for Implementation of the Peace Agreement.

Mr. President,

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union.

First and foremost we congratulate the Government and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina on their application to join the EU. Ukraine hopes that this historic decision will provide an additional impetus for further progress under the General Framework Agreement for Peace. Ukraine welcomes the readiness of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance the reform agenda. We are looking forward to the conclusion of a final agreement between the EU and BiH on the adaptation of the trade provisions of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

Ukraine also praises the efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Government aimed at the activation of the country’s NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP). We support close cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with NATO as an important factor of security in Europe. In this regard we hope for the quickest resolution of the issue of immovable defence property as the precondition to the country’s MAP.

Mr. President,

Our meeting takes place at an important moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina. A bit more than 20 years ago the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH in Dayton was reached. A lot of work has been done, but yet after twenty years in peace we still witness serious political divisions inside the country.

As a positive sign of finding the way to bridge the differences we see the decision of Republika Srpska’s authorities not to hold the referendum on the State judiciary. However the absence of appropriate decision on the subject by the Republika Srpska’s National Assembly is a worrying sign.

I would like to underscore that any referendum that contradicts the provisions of Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Agreement is illegitimate.

Ukraine shares concerns of the High Representative Valentin Inzko regarding certain statements by Republika Srpska officials calling for that entity’s secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina. We strongly condemn any provocative actions that could undermine the progress under the Dayton Peace Agreement and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I once again reiterate our strong support of Bosnia and Herzegovina territorial integrity that is guaranteed by its Constitution and international law including the UN Charter.

Mr. President,

Ukraine believes that more efforts could have been made to achieve more sustainable progress on the “5+2” agenda. We hope that during the next reporting period we will witness long awaited developments towards meeting the set of objectives and conditions.

In our view, special attention should be paid to the issue of “prospective defence property”, particularly the registration of specific properties located on the territory of Republika Srpska.

Other areas, where progress would be highly welcome — in addition to implementing the Sejdić-Finci judgment — are the issues of the publication of the 2013 census results, the proper functioning of the coordination mechanism on the EU matters, the implementation of the BiH Constitutional Court’s decision on Mostar and delivering on outstanding IMF requirements.

Finally, Mr. President, I would like to underscore that given the information we heard today from the High Representative it is very important to overcome political differences in BiH and to achieve a tangible progress in implementing necessary reforms as well as the “5+2” agenda.

Achieving all five objectives and two conditions as quickly as possible would be the best way forward.

In my view, as we entered the third decade of the peace process in BiH the Council has an obligation to provide all necessary political support to ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina’s further peaceful development. It is of utmost importance that any attempt of encroaching on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are resolutely addressed.

I thank you