Bosnia and Herzegovina’s compliance with OSCE and UN politico-military security commitments in focus at 8th Annual Review Conference

JAHORINA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 November 2015 – The 8th Annual Review Conference on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s compliance with OSCE and UN Security Commitments concluded today in Jahorina, having brought together more than 70 participants from the government, civil society and the expert community.

Over the years the conference, organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in co-operation with the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has become a major forum for reflection and constructive dialogue between politicians and experts in discussing the implementation of security commitments and security building measures.

“We consider the politico-military commitments set by the OSCE and the UN as fundamental to the development of a more stable and secure environment as they foster peace in the region and beyond,” said Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Alexander Chuplygin.

Andrew Mayne of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN Resident Co-ordinator, said: “BiH has destroyed over 125,000 pieces of weapons and 16,000 tons of its military stockpiles, as well as all known and reported stocks of cluster munitions. However, 20 years after the war, landmines still constitute a serious threat to the safety to the civilian population.”

Mayne noted that building capacities for security sector reform is a daunting and long term process. “We recognize that BiH has been making progress in strengthening institutional capacities to deliver security-related services to its citizens as moving forward with its international commitments.”

Zoran Sajinovic, BiH Defence Assistant Minister for International Co-operation, said:  “By implementing the international commitments in the field of arms control we provide our contribution to the regional and global framework for improved security.”