Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Deputy U.S. Representative
New York, New York
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, President. I welcome his excellency the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I also acknowledge the representatives of Serbia, Croatia, and the European Union.
The United States is committed to preserving stability and security in the Western Balkans.
With this in mind, we welcome the Security Council’s reauthorization of the mandate for EUFOR Operation Althea. The unanimous adoption of this measure shows that members of this Council recognize the important role EUFOR Operation Althea plays in maintaining stability and security in the Western Balkans.
Rooted in the Dayton Peace Agreement, Operation Althea remains critical to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We thank the EU for its contributions to, and leadership of, Operation Althea.
The United States remains committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement and the goal of a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mr. President, our discussion today takes place at an especially critical moment, as the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to evolve. Stability and de-escalation must be the top priority. We continue to call on all parties to refrain from actions that could undermine stability.
Over the last several years, Bosnia and Herzegovina faced an extended and destabilizing political crisis.
The United States stepped forward and led diplomatic action to defuse this situation. Over the past several months, we have worked deliberately and discreetly to secure de-escalation and provide space for greater stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In this context, we welcomed the steps taken by the Republika Srpska’s National Assembly on October 18 to take legislative action that set Bosnia and Herzegovina on a more stable footing.
In response to these positive actions, we removed U.S. sanctions on Republika Srpska officials as a responsive measure to defuse the crisis and promote stability.
These sanctions, like all U.S. sanctions, were not meant to be permanent. They were imposed in response to specific actions that contributed to the political crisis. The Republika Srpska National Assembly took significant steps to unwind these actions on October 18.
Colleagues, the United States is no longer pursuing nation-building or heavy-handed international intervention. Now is the time for local solutions, led by local actors representing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s three constituent peoples. These actions reflect a step in that direction and the spirit of U.S. policy.
We call on all the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take advantage of this opportunity for greater stability, and to move away from a persistent state of crisis and instead work to promote shared prosperity through compromise.
The United States will continue to work with our partners to protect and advance American interests by supporting stability and progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina and throughout the region.
I thank you.
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