PRESS RELEASE : UK Special Envoy calls for politicians to deliver for all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 November 2023.

The UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Lord Stuart Peach paid a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 26 to 29 November 2023.

Lord Peach began with a visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Centre where he heard about the Centre’s efforts to create a long lasting, world renowned place of research and history. In his meeting with young people working at the Memorial Centre he emphasised the vital role of this institution in ‘helping all of us to understand what happened, how to explain it, how to build dialogue and how to learn lessons to prevent any repeat’.

In Sarajevo, Lord Peach met with a range of government and non-governmental representatives, as well as the representatives of the International Community including Commander of the EUFOR General Major Habermayer and the Head of the EU Delegation/EUSR Sattler. In separate calls with BiH Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic and member Denis Becirovic, he reiterated the UK’s continued support to BiH’s Euro-Atlantic path and to BiH efforts towards greater security, stability and prosperity for all.  In conversation with Mayor Karic and the Sarajevo City Assembly Speaker Jasmin Ademovic Lord Peach welcomed their initiative to support victims of GBV across the country and to promote greater protection for vulnerable groups.

At the conclusion of his visit, Lord Peach noted the experience and commitment to the country’s progress shown by civil society and some political leaders. He encouraged his interlocutors to remain committed to constructive cooperation, dialogue and compromise, as the only way to deliver for citizens.

Lord Peach reflected on his visit saying:

As I depart from my visit to BiH, I urge all in government to continue the positive momentum for all citizens. In our disturbed world, now more than ever, we should work together on our values and a better future. Not to give in and join in ethnic division, hate speech and those who revel in the past. The young people of this country deserve a better future.