High Representative and EU Special Representative Valentin Inzko and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met in Sarajevo today at the new U.S. Embassy building. The HR/EUSR commended the crucial role played by the United States in stabilizing and advancing the region and thanked the Secretary of State for her visit. “This visit is an important sign that Bosnia and Herzegovina figures high on the global agenda. It comes at a crucial time.”  

HR/EUSR Inzko stressed that the results of the general elections held on 3 October in Bosnia and Herzegovina offer a chance for a fresh start. “Political leaders must form new governments as soon as possible, in order to tackle the urgent reform agenda that will get the country back on the Euro-Atlantic integration path. For this, they must radically change course.”

The HR/EUSR and the Secretary of State discussed the importance of full implementation of the “5 plus 2” agenda. Noting that little progress was achieved during the last several years, the HR/EUSR expressed hope that the country’s new political leaders will push forward with the agenda in the period ahead. “The International Community must remain firm on the complete fulfillment of the objectives and conditions for closure of the OHR as agreed by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in February 2008. Considerable challenges, such as the issue of state property, remain”, the HR/EUSR said.