New York, 24 February 2010

Statement by H.E. Mr. Ivan Barbalic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations
at the UN Security Council Debate
on Threats to international peace and security

First of all, allow me to thank the French presidency for convening this important meeting. Let me also take this opportunity to thank Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for his dedicated work and for his briefing.

The rapid growth of criminal networks, transcending national borders and regional boundaries, dangerously affects today’s global peace and security. Poorly governed countries, especially those emerging from post-conflict  situations and humanitarian crises, are the most vulnerable, and unstable situations are fertile ground for the development of criminal and terrorist activities and corruption. The clear cause-and effect relationship between poor social and economic situations and a lack of the rule of law on the one hand and rising crime and corruption on the other makes development unsustainable and affects domestic, regional and international peace and security.

To be able to provide an efficient response to the scourge of transnational organized crime, the international community should first undertake further efforts to make developing countries less susceptible to organized crime, by addressing the root causes of widespread poverty, investing in health and human development and ensuring systematic law enforcement and institution-building. Through such preventive activities, the international community will enable developing countries to fight organized crime by themselves, to the benefit of all States and of the international community as a whole.

In order to create a common assessment of rising crime and corruption trends, which is indispensable for identifying policies and for creating effective counter activities, the United Nations and its relevant agencies, through the “One United Nations” concept, should further improve coherence in the collection and sharing of information and in strategic data analysis. In that context, we would like to encourage the further development of substantive software applications such as the United Nations National Drug Control System (NDS), the Pre-Export Notification System (PEN On Line), goAML and other tools specifically conceived for national and international control and the fight against organized crime.

My delegation joins those who acknowledge the seriousness of this problem and points out that, given its nature, it is clear that no single country acting alone can address this problem successfully. While building the proper judiciary and police systems in individual countries is of paramount importance, cooperation at the subregional and regional levels is equally important. Regional strategies and the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements tailored to national and regional specificities can provide a comprehensive legal framework for cooperation and successful counter-activities and could increase the national, regional and overall global capacity to effectively respond to  international threats posed by organized crime, drug trafficking and corruption.

I would also like to take this opportunity to state that my country has undertaken important legislative, judicial and structural reforms aimed at strengthening our drug control system and fighting illicit trafficking and related crimes. Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches utmost importance to bilateral and regional cooperation in combating these threats to global peace and security and is fully committed to working closely with neighboring countries and the relevant regional and international organizations.

We believe that it is crucial to cooperate, exchange information and experiences and promote good practices in confronting this issue. In that regard, Bosnia and Herzegovina fully supports the efforts that have been made jointly by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other relevant United Nations organs and agencies in facing numerous security risks caused by drug trafficking in many countries and regions.

Lessons learned in one place can often be of great use and help in another. In that context, the knowledge and expertise of UNODC are exceptional value, and Member States should benefit from them.
 
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