Speech by

Antanas VALIONIS, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

On the occasion of the accession to the Council of Europe of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Strasbourg, 24 april 2002

President Belkic,
members of the Presidency,
Minister Lagumdzija,
dear Colleagues,

I was much moved by the words of the Minister. They prepared us for the symbolic moment of the raising of the flag of your country in front of this European Home. Already our greater European family of democratic countries counts forty-four members. In the name of the Committee of Ministers, I wish you a warm welcome.

You, and the other high representatives of your country are no strangers in Strasbourg, being your country’s eloquent advocates with the Council of Europe. The Minister was present in Strasbourg on 20 March when the Committee adopted the resolution inviting Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a member of our Organisation, and a month ago, I had the personal satisfaction to meeting all of you again on my official visit to your country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was reborn 6 years ago, at the end of a devastating and vicious war, with so many wounds to heal. The Council of Europe encourages us to stop looking back to the complicated past. We should continuously work for the good neighborly relations creating fruitful environment for our co-operation for the stability in Europe. Using the experience of the Organization and of the member states it is possible to reconcile with the history and to find the new paths for the future.

The international community, with the Council of Europe, stood at your side, taking large responsibilities for the recovery of your Statehood. This is the day where you – and all of us with you – take a decisive turn : accession to Council of Europe membership, for which you have been striving so strongly together with us, is indeed evidence of the consolidation of your common State as a responsible and respected member of the international community on its own.

Recent developments inside Bosnia and Herzegovina point to the right direction. It will in its full dimension be the State of Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs and members of other groups and communities all together, the common home for all of its citizens in their quest for undivided, shared peace and prosperity.

Today, we welcome an open, multi-ethnic and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina as a full partner in our common efforts not only to consolidate regional stability but also to create a common European space of democracy, human rights and rule of law. We look forward to a prosperous common future, ever more closely integrated into common European structures.