Speeches

Thank you for inviting me to the official launch of the “Trans-Adriatic Conference – Interreg IIIA”. Thank you, especially, to Italy and to Foreign Minister Frattini for the strong support you have given to this initiative: and thank you, and congratulations, to BiH, and to Minister Ivanic, for hosting the first conference. The extension to the co [...]

I am delighted to be here at this ceremony, delighted to be able to mark in this way the first few month’s of EUPM’s mission. It scarcely seems four months since EUPM took over where the UN IPTF left off. You have already become such a familiar part of the BiH scene that one sometimes forgets that the mission is still relatively new. The fact tha [...]

My message to the businesspeople in the audience is – more or less – that I have no message. Running companies is something you know how to do – and successful companies are the dynamo of successful economies. Public officials do not make economies prosper; businesspeople do. You do not need me or any other public official – BiH or international – [...]

I stand here today as the International Community’s representative. As the European Union’s representative. As a human being. And as a friend. Today has been a long time coming. But now, at last with dignity, solemnity and with love, the first of Srebrenica’s slaughtered can finally be laid to rest. I would like to thank all those wh [...]

I am delighted that this meeting has taken place and that I have been invited to make a few remarks. We are at the first hurdle. The reforms have been clearly laid out before you. After 110 days of work, entrepreneurs of Bosnia and Herzegovina have pinpointed an array of issues that need to change to improve the business environment. You, the c [...]

I am delighted to speak to you today, because there is no subject that pre-occupies me more than the state of this country’s economy. If you ask me the issue on which I will be campaigning most vigorously in the months ahead, I would simply echo Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan and tell to you bluntly: ‘It’s the economy, stupid’. Bosnia and Herzego [...]

In the course of my duties as both the High Representative and the Special Representative of the European Union, I attend a good number of official ceremonies and formal events. But I can honestly say none of them has marked such an important event as the opening of the European Union’s Police Mission – the first such mission ever to be launched u [...]

I am pleased to take part in this important conference. It brings together experts both from the OHR and from the ICTY to discuss how we can best arrange for war crimes case to be tried here in BiH. That is a formidable task. It will need careful preparation and close consultation between all of us here today if we are to come up with a sensible [...]

My address will be about half an hour long, after which I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I fear I have some rather tough things to say. If I offend by my bluntness, then please forgive me. I do not intend to show a lack of respect, either for you or for this very important institution. But I am a rather plain speaking man an [...]