The author’s commentary

 by the B-H Presidency Chairman Sulejman TIhic

in the French daily Le Figaro

“Exactly eleven years ago, the two French soldiers Marcel AMARU and Jacky HUMBLOT gave their lives in the peace mission on the Vrbanja Bridge in Sarajevo that was under a siege at the time.

Their action represented a decisive turning point in the way that the IC peace forces behaved. Until that moment, most often only silent observers of sufferings of B-H citizens, the International peace forces became true forces for the establishment of peace after that action.

In a certain way, soldiers HUMBLOT and AMARU became a symbol of eighty-four French soldiers who had given their lives for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Their courage, determination and their sense of responsibility contributed to the establishment of peace in our country. They will always remain in our memories.

Moreover, we will never forget the fantastic mobilization of French citizens and their support to our country in its most difficult moments of war.

Today, ten years after signing the Dayton Agreement, we can say that the French soldiers’ sacrifice has not been in vain, because the established peace has never been violated since.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is on its pathway to the Euro-Atlantic integration. We are conducting a great number of very important reforms. We are re-establishing the multiethnic society, based on a unity of diversity and the multi-century tradition of a joint life of our citizens.

We have succeeded in ensuring the macro-economic stability in our country, with the inflation rate such is the one in the European Union. Our currency is the strongest currency in the region.

Only ten years ago, the world sent soldiers to our country in order to help us in the establishment of peace and stability. Today, Bosnia-Herzegovina sends its soldiers to peace missions worldwide.

We are expecting to sign the European Union Stabilisation and Association Agreement. We hope that we will have become a full-fledged member of NATO by 2008.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s entry in European Union and NATO is our foreign policy’s priority. That is also the best way to establish a permanent peace and stability, not only in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but in the entire region of Southeastern Europe as well.

We are fully aware of the conditions for our country’s getting closer to European Union and NATO, so we will do everything in our power to fulfil them.

Very difficult and delicate reforms that we have completed so far, such is the reform of defence, fiscal system, intelligence agency etc. speak volumes about our willingness and seriousness, and give us the right to be optimistic.

We believe that those criteria for entering the great European family should be the same for the candidate countries. In that sense, we fully support France and European Union in their insistence on a strict fulfilment of those requirements.

Such an attitude is especially important when it comes to the cooperation with the International Criminal Court in The Hague, particularly arresting the war criminals.

The issue of war crimes is of crucial importance, not just for Bosnia-Herzegovina, but for the entire region as well. Only on the basis of truth and justice can we build trust and good relations between the peoples and the States of the region.

On our European path, we are counting on our friends’ support, among which is France and its citizens have a special place in our hearts. We will tremendously appreciate your support and guidance in that sense.

The friendship between Bosnia-Herzegovina and France has a very long tradition. Two hundred years ago, France appointed its first consul to Bosnia-Herzegovina. France was also the first country that accredited its ambassador in the internationally recognised Bosnia-Herzegovina, in July 1993.

Citizens of Sarajevo will never forget that the first French ambassador, Mr. Henry JACOLIN shared their most difficult moments in the surrounded Sarajevo.

Because of all this, we are convinced that France will continue to give us strong political and expert support in our European pathway and we are proud of the firm friendship between our two countries.