EPC summit: Bosnian leader warns against attempts to undermine Dayton Peace Agreement
Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Denis Bećirović, addressed the European Political Community Summit Roundtable on ‘Protecting and Defending Democratic Europe’
“Europe must not passively stand by in the face of attacks on democratic values. We must take bold decisions to safeguard democracy and our shared future. Democratic institutions, freedom and peace must be defended in a coordinated manner,” Dr Bećirović said, adding:
“During the 1990s, we in Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced just how severe and long-lasting the consequences of attacks on democracy and international law can be. Democracy must not be defended only when it comes under military attack. It must also be defended when extremists emerge who systematically undermine democratic institutions, threaten the constitutional order and challenge the rules on which peace is based.
“The most resolute opposition must be shown to attempts to undermine international law and forcibly change state borders. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the Western Balkans, Europe's democratic resilience is being put to the test,” the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH stressed.
“The separatist leadership in the entity of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina has openly announced that, in the coming period, it will attempt to unilaterally dismantle the Dayton Peace Agreement.
“We must all be aware that such an irresponsible policy would lead to complete destabilisation, not only of Bosnia and Herzegovina but of the entire region. Activities aimed at destabilising Bosnia and Herzegovina are not spontaneous. They receive political, media and logistical support from those opposed to protecting and defending democratic Europe. I therefore call on all democratic states to firmly oppose attempts to destabilise Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. This is also a test of Europe's credibility and capacity to act.”
In his address, Dr Bećirović pointed out that the European continent once again finds itself at a major crossroads, CE Report informs via the BiH Presidency's official website.
“Either we protect democracy or we stand by and watch extremists undermine it once again. Let us not allow ourselves to be the last generation to experience democracy. Respect for the sovereignty of states, territorial integrity and international law are the foundations of the defence of democracy.
“I wish to emphasise that EU enlargement policy must also serve the purpose of protecting and defending democratic Europe. The integration of new member states strengthens collective security and enables more effective protection of democracy. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains firmly committed to a Europe of values, a Europe of the rule of law and a Europe of peace,” Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Denis Bećirović concluded.
Photo BiH Presidency
