Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Sven Alkalaj Meets with Ambassadors of the United Nations Security Council Permanent Member Countries

Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Sven Alkalaj paid a working visit to New York and held separate meetings with the Ambassadors – Permanent Representatives to the UN of the UN Security Council permanent members: the U.S., the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Great Britain, and the Republic of France.

On December 16th, 2009, Minister Alkalaj met with Ambassador Susan E. Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the UN. On December 17th, 2009, he met with Ambassadors Zhang Yesui, Vitaly Churkin, Mark Lyall Grant, and Gerard Araud, the Permanent Representatives of China, the Russian Federation, Great Britain, and France to the UN.

During separate meetings, Minister Alkalaj stated that UN Security Council membership is of immense importance for BiH and that it represents a great challenge and responsibility, emphasizing at the same time that BiH takes its two-year membership in this important body very seriously, that it will take on its commitments in the Council responsibly, and that it is willing to contribute to its constructive work.

The Minister voiced a willingness to cooperate constructively with the members of the Security Council, particularly on political issues aimed at maximizing efforts to build collective security. In that sense, he pointed out that BiH is interested in acquiring experiences of Security Council permanent members, particularly in terms of the institutional memory they have gained through continued active participation in the work of the UN Security Council.

U.S. Permanent Representative Ambassador Rice stated she was pleased that BiH will join the U.S. and other Security Council member states in January of next year. She inquired about the decision-making procedure in BiH in terms of the issues that will be discussed in the Security Council. Minister Alkalaj informed her about the decision-making procedure and expressed appreciation for consultations and training programs held in Washington for the staff of the BiH Mission in New York. The interlocutors exchanged views on issues that will be discussed in the Security Council in the next two months.

During the meeting between Minister Alkalaj and China’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Yesui stated that China welcomes the election of BiH as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and that it is willing to work closely with our country in the next two years when it comes to international peace and security. He pointed out that China will preside over the Security Council next January. The two officials also discussed the special topic which the Chinese Presidency will propose.

In their meeting, Minister Alkalaj and Russian Permanent Representative Ambassador Churkin focused on exchanging views regarding issues that will be discussed in the Security Council during the next two months. Minister Alkalaj stressed that BiH, with its experience and lessons learned in the post-conflict period of reconstruction, strengthening and ensuring long-lasting stability in the country and particularly with its experience in regional cooperation, can actively contribute to the work of the Security Council. Ambassador Churkin also inquired about current political circumstances in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During his meeting with British Ambassador Grant, Minister Alkalaj expressed appreciation for training courses organized for BiH diplomats in order to prepare them for Security Council membership. The two officials also exchanged views on issues that the Security Council will deliberate on at the beginning of next year. The Mission of Great Britain also expressed its willingness to cooperate closely with the Mission of BiH.

French Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Araud stated he was pleased that BiH will become a member of the “family” as of next January and expressed a full willingness to cooperate with the Mission of BiH in New York. He stated that Security Council membership is very significant for BiH and expressed the belief that BiH will be fully engaged in resolving issues on the Security Council agenda.