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The Security Council on October 31 renewed for 12 months the authorization to establish a European Union-led stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, has issued a Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States at the UN Security Council Debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Main messages of the Statement are as follow:
- The European Union welcomes the renewal of the mandate of EUFOR Althea by this Council. EUFOR Althea continues to play a key role in supporting the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all its citizens. This operation demonstrates the EU’s long-lasting commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- The EU takes note of the recent developments in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska that contribute to the de-escalation of the political situation. The EU underlines the key importance of the authorities in the Republika Srpska entity to demonstrate a clear political will to move away from those remaining initiatives and legislation that run counter to the constitutional order and EU path of the country, and which continue to be a source of EU’s concern. Following the termination of the mandate of the President of the Republika Srpska entity, the EU looks forward to the early Presidential elections in Republika Srpska on the basis of the state-level election law and the decisions of the Central Election Commission.
- The EU emphasises that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order, including Constitutional Court decisions, and international personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina need to be respected.
- Following the European Council decision to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2024, the EU urges all political actors to renew the country’s focus on progressing on the EU path and to intensify efforts to deliver EU reforms, taking all relevant steps.
- The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia, align themselves with this statement.
Comments: The impression is, that there is a direct link between the renewal of the mandate of EUFOR Althea by the UN Security Council and the key importance of the authorities in the Republika Srpska entity to demonstrate a clear political will to move away from those remaining initiatives and legislation that run counter to the constitutional order and EU path of the country. The message is very clear – it will not be tolerated any more the separatist policy of Dodik and persons like him.
