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Visit to Bosnia- Herzegovina/ Dayton-Paris Peace Treaty
Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the "Oslobodenje" newspaper (excerpts) .
Sarajevo, July 23, 2004
(...) Q. – What do you think of relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and France?
THE MINISTER – Our bilateral relations are thriving but still inadequate. A political dialogue was recently developed, particularly with Foreign Minister Ivanic's two visits to Paris. This dialogue must be expanded further and I fully intend contributing to it during my visit to Mostar where I shall be meeting top-level State representatives. I attach a great deal of importance to these relations per se, but also because they are assisting the progress of Bosnia-Herzegovina and her neighbours towards eventual membership of the European Union. Q. – Where do you see the possibility of improving relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and France, at the political and economic levels?
THE MINISTER – At the political level, France is helping Bosnia-Herzegovina strengthen her institutions and establish a credible rule of law, which is essential to develop the confidence of foreign partners. The significant amount of organized crime in the region, where Mafia-type networks and all kinds of trafficking are on the increase, is a source of concern to France and her European partners. She must not find any complacency on the part of the Bosnian leaders. Our bilateral cooperation in this sphere is excellent and must be fleshed out further in the police and judicial spheres.
But other sectors are promising: tourism where France, the world's leading tourist destination, has huge know-how: infrastructure – particularly roads –, civil aviation, energy sector, and environmental protection. In particular, France can help define coherent strategies – I'm thinking, for example, of town and country planning [regional development]. DAYTON-PARIS PEACE TREATY Q. – Almost nine years have passed since the Dayton-Paris Peace Treaty. How do you rate that agreement today?
THE MINISTER – Today, it's easy to stress that agreement's limits. But, without it, it wouldn't have been possible to build peace. It has permitted the reconstruction, return of the refugees and displaced persons, restoration of almost normal life, launch of ambitious reforms, etc. A healthy political debate must be developed between local political players: in the first place it's up to them. But an essential prerequisite for this is the development of mutual confidence so that as large as possible a consensus can emerge: if one of the parties feels itself weakened by another, this interferes with the dialogue and concrete search for solutions. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA/EU Q. – Do you support Bosnia-Herzegovina's transition from Dayton to Europe (...)?
THE MINISTER – We have already begun this transition! It's in fact one of the catchwords of Lord Ashdown – whose work I salute and who has the French authorities' full support –: "from Dayton to Brussels". But for the moment, regrettably, external players are still the principal instigators of the vast number of reforms which are radically transforming this country. Nevertheless, I note with satisfaction that things are speeding up, especially since the European Commission presented its feasibility report on 18 November: the country is beginning to direct more of its own energies to the tasks in hand. It's starting to take responsibility, ownership: I earnestly appeal to Bosnia-Herzegovina's authorities to take control of her destiny. Q. – Has Bosnia-Herzegovina got French support for moving closer to the European Union and, if so, what form does it take?
THE MINISTER – During her 2000 EU presidency, France played a key role in this respect by initiating the first Zagreb summit of European Union members with the Western Balkan countries. This, like the second Thessaloníki summit in 2003, saw these countries officially confirmed as natural candidates for eventual EU membership. Our position and action haven't changed: France is resolutely in favour of the Western Balkans joining the European Union. Our policy can also be seen through our future deployment, with our European Union partners, of a European military force which will take over from SFOR before the end of the year. This is a major development, which is also giving Bosnia-Herzegovina's authorities the opportunity to move closer to Europe and its nations. Q. – What has Bosnia-Herzegovina got to do to become a candidate, to start EU accession negotiations in the near future?
THE MINISTER – What's essential is to be methodical and not cut corners. The current process is a comprehensive one. It involves not just strengthening the central institutions, but also providing an efficient education system, modernizing the economy and ensuring full respect for the law, etc. The Directorate of European Integration has clearly understood this and I want to salute the work of its head vis-ŕ-vis the President of the Council of Ministers. So the first stage is to prepare to open negotiations for a Stabilization and Association Agreement. Secondly, that agreement will have to be concluded, then ratified. Bosnia-Herzegovina will then be able to make active efforts to complete the following stages: candidature, its presentation, its acceptance, then admission to the European Union. Even though each country's route to accession is unique, you can draw inspiration from the path followed by Croatia and Macedonia. It's also important to remember the regional dimension: Western Balkan countries mustn't be rivals, but show solidarity with each other. (...) PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE Q. – Bosnia-Herzegovina wasn't accepted into the Partnership for Peace (PPP) at the Istanbul Summit because of the failure to arrest war criminals. In your view, who is directly responsible for the continuing liberty of the most dangerous criminals, such as Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic?
(...) THE MINISTER – Bosnia-Herzegovina suffers from a substantial handicap because of the large number of war crimes perpetrated in her recent history. For the page really to be turned, it's essential for those bearing the heaviest responsibility for the atrocities committed during the war to be arrested and prosecuted in an international tribunal. The European Union has also made this clear.
But, going beyond the police and judicial procedures, something more fundamental is beginning to emerge: the recognition by everyone involved of what they did, then the quest for a genuine reconciliation. This is what the Srebrenica Commission has set in train: there's no genuine reconciliation without truth and without justice. Worthy and courageous gestures have recently been made in this direction. But there's a need to persevere, even if the process is painful. (...)./. Embassy of France in the United States - July 27, 2004
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