Madame President,

I thank ASG Miroslav Jenča, High Representative, Mr. Christian Schmidt and Ms. Željka Cvijanović for their briefings and welcome the participation of the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia in today’s meeting.

2025 will mark 30 years since the signing of the Dayton Agreement. The governance and peace structures of the Agreement continue to provide a solid framework for the achievement of reconciliation and peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, its uneven implementation, divisive rhetoric and rising political and ethnic tensions are stymieing the country’s development.

I wish to make three points.

First, the Dayton Peace Agreement contributed significantly to ending the devastating war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while establishing it as a sovereign state. The signing of the Agreement represented a commitment to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Balkan region. 

It is, therefore, imperative that efforts continue towards its full implementation. This can only be achieved through constructive, inter-ethnic dialogue that is conducted in the interests of all the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Guyana underscores the need for Bosnia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected.

Secondly, the use of threats of secession as a political instrument, particularly in a multiethnic society, can have far reaching and long-lasting repercussions. It can exacerbate tensions and lead to conflict, social fragmentation, political instability and disrupt the economic activities of a country, reversing national development. 

We urge all parties to work assiduously to ensure these effects are mitigated, that diversity is respected, and nation building is prioritized.

Thirdly, we urge the parties to engage in dialogue and redouble efforts around genuine reconciliation and deter all actions that could lead to instability and conflict. A platform for constructive dialogue and peaceful resolution of diverging views which threaten hard earned peace and security, is relevant now more than ever.

In closing, Guyana calls on all parties to act responsibly and to make all efforts towards de-escalation of current tensions and to recommit to the full implementation of the Dayton Agreement.

I also take this opportunity to commend Malta for its effective Presidency of the Council for the month of April and wish Mozambique the best for the next month.

Thank you.