in French

General Assembly
Fifty-second session

71st plenary meeting

Friday, 15 December 1997
New York

Mr. Erdõs (Hungary)
(interpretation from French)

Hungary fully associates itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg on behalf of the European Union.

The situation that arose in Bosnia and Herzegovina presented the international community with one of its greatest challenges since the great political changes that took place in the world. The crisis in the former Yugoslavia, of which the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the most calamitous element, has become synonymous with the bitter disappointment and trauma that continue to haunt us today.

The Dayton peace process has yet to produce all the expected results. Now that the military provisions of the Dayton Agreement are being implemented, it is urgent to address the task of consolidating what has been achieved and of implementing the civilian side of the agreement on a priority basis. We are glad to see that peace is being consolidated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it also clear that the process has not yet become irreversible. The establishment of a multiethnic and multicultural Bosnia and Herzegovina requires the unconditional implementation of all the provisions of the Dayton Agreement and, in the current circumstances, a continued international military presence.

In that context, we welcome the recent Bonn Peace Implementation Conference, which highlighted the remaining tasks, such as ensuring the effective functioning of joint institutions, the strengthening of trust and cooperation among the three peoples that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the importance of the administration of justice and of respect for human rights.

It is important to spend a moment on the problem of securing full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and with respect to bringing war criminals to justice. We greatly regret that the fulfilment of commitments to that end - commitments based upon the Dayton Agreement - has not been viewed equally by the various ethnic communities as an unambiguous obligation. We must therefore ensure that the Tribunal has the financial resources it needs to carry out its tasks, and that it has access to all the information that is so vital for arriving at objective and balanced positions.

It is important also to mention the question of the return of refugees and displaced persons. Respect for minority rights, under international norms, is a part of this and a fundamental element of reconciliation, especially given the recent surge in ethnic intolerance throughout the country. Let me quote Ambassador Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who said in a statement on Human Rights Day that

Spoke in English.

"Diversity is richness, not a threat. It should be enjoyed, not despised".

Spoke in French.

That comment sends a very important message and should guide not only the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and populations throughout the former Yugoslavia, but the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe, so that there will be no repetition of the tragedies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Croatia.

The objective of the entire Dayton process, in spite of the efforts of those who would sabotage and undermine it, is to ensure the independence and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina in democracy and to preserve the unity and the legal and territorial integrity of that multi-ethnic country. In that context, the reconstruction and economic revival of Bosnia and Herzegovina are a sine qua non for the achievement of the objectives the international community has set itself in this country.

In the present conditions, it is obvious that this can be assured only through the continuation of international aid. That said, we share the point of view of those who make a direct link between supplying such assistance and the degree of cooperation with the international community shown by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, the consolidation of the results of the last two years depends above all on the attitude of the Bosnian parties themselves.

All those who have been following developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina know very well that the international community has made a major political investment in it. We can only reiterate the European Union's declaration that neither attempts to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty nor attempts at unilateral domination over the political institutions of that country will be tolerated. Regardless of the views that any side may have regarding the events of the last few years in the former Yugoslav region, and regardless of the attitude of any side towards the methods used by the international community in dealing with this conflict regardless of all that, it is crystal clear that there is no alternative to the preservation of the unity of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the implementation of the Dayton Agreement as a whole.

Hungary, a bordering country in the region, is vitally interested in the consolidation of peace and the preservation of stability in the former Yugoslav region, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular. The political, security, economic and psychological impact on the neighbouring countries, including Hungary, of the events that took place on the territory of the former Yugoslavia is well known today.

My country has reaffirmed on several occasions that it will remain ready in the future to play a role in the maintenance of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the international civilian police and within the framework of the Stabilization Force, in particular in the efforts for logistical and infrastructural reconstruction of the country. The rebuilding or the building of a number of bridges across the Sava River and the works in progress to rebuild the historic Mostar bridge, which are part of the world's cultural heritage, are also evidence of a concrete Hungarian contribution to the restoration of the country. The base of the Stabilization Force, which has been in operation for several years now in the south of Hungary, will always be available to advance the process of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hungary became a sponsor of draft resolution A/52/L.67/Rev.1, which, in our view, can play a useful role in the consolidation of a peace that is still fragile in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is our hope that this draft resolution will receive the approval of our Assembly.