UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution renewing for 12 months the authorization of the European Union-led multinational stabilization force (EUFOR-Althea) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Pakistan urging it’s constituent peoples — Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs — to reject divisive narratives and build trust to ensure a bright future together.
“Our vote supporting the renewal of the mandate of EUFOR ALTHEA Mission reflects our strong desire to see stability prevail and tranquillity take root in Bosnia,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, the acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council.
The EUFOR is mandated to help implement the military aspects of the 1995 General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Peace Agreement, as well as provisions concerning the inter-entity boundary line and related issues.
The Agreement, signed in 1995, ended the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995 and established a framework for the country’s two entities — the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, each with its own executive and legislative branches. The two entities are linked by a rotating tripartite inter-ethnic presidency and a legislative branch.
The Agreement is supported by the Peace Implementation Council, which, on June 30, appointed Louis Crishock as Acting High Representative after no agreement was reached on a permanent successor to the previous High Representative, Christian Schmidt, who resigned in May.
The Security Council’s meeting followed general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 4 October, as well as a State funeral held on 7 September in Belgrade for Ratko Mladic, a former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, who was serving a life sentence following his conviction by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for genocide and crimes against humanity.
“Our support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with the UN Charter, remains resolute and unwavering,” the Pakistani envoy stressed.
Referring to the rising political tensions and divisive rhetoric over the past year and a half that disturbed the country’s fragile inter-ethnic balance, Ambassador Jadoon regretted its spillover effect, leading to governance deficit and institutional paralysis, exacerbating the administrative, legislative and constitutional challenges.
“We hope that the with the recent elections, these dynamics would change, and all the political leadership in Bosnia and Herzegovina would work together and re-engage with each other in the spirit of mutual respect, compromise and mutual accommodation, within the confines of the constitutional order of the country”.
“The well-being of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina should remain paramount,” he said, adding, “The only path for this is an earnest, result oriented and unconditional dialogue among the two entities, and all constituent peoples.”
“We acknowledge Bosnia’s right to choose its own partnerships and a path towards integration in regional political and economic organizations as it deems fit, in accordance with the will of its peoples,” the Pakistani envoy envoy said.
“Only by collectively rejecting divisive and dangerous narratives, and promoting peaceful co-existence, trust can be rebuilt, allowing a bright future together- one grounded in peace and shared dignity for all,” he added. –Agencies
