Brussels, 31/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for the unity of the country so that it can advance on the path towards the EU. “Action is required from the country's political leaders. (…) It is important to look beyond domestic divisions, political rivalries and vested interests. Otherwise, this country risks being left behind by other countries in the region, who are making progress towards the EU”, Ashton said. She added that in the face of “real, pressing challenges - such as the economy, jobs, the rule of law”, there is “no time to waste on unproductive debates, such as those which question the statehood of this country”.
Ashton encouraged the Presidency to work together with all political forces to achieve quick and concrete progress on the EU agenda. Clinton said that “joining the European Union and NATO offers this country the best path towards stability and prosperity”, and she considered that the leaders do not honestly reflect the aspirations of the majority of the population of advancing quickly towards the EU and NATO.
Clinton also judged that “it is totally unacceptable that 17 years after the war ended, some still question Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and territorial integrity” - indirectly accusing the Bosnian Serb leaders who often threaten to proclaim their independence. “Such talk is a distraction from the problems facing the country and serves only to undermine the goal of European integration. The Dayton accords must be respected and preserved, period”, she said.
Ashton stated that there is “no doubt among the 27 member states of the European Union” that the future of Bosnia is in the EU, and she reaffirmed that “the EU perspective is real”. “We want to see a united, stable, prosperous, multi-ethnic country taking its rightful place in European and transatlantic structures”, Ashton and Clinton said. (CG/transl.fl)