Your Excellencies, Honorable Ministers and Government Officials, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would first of all like to thank Prime Minister Göran Perrson as well as the organizers of this Conference on Preventing Genocide for inviting the delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate. It truly gives me great pleasure to address such an honorable gathering. I apologize that the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr, Dragan Covic is not here to deliver the address and I pass on his expressions of regret.

Almost nine years have passed since the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.We don't need to be specially reminded that during the conflicts around 200,000 people lost their lives (a large number of which are civilian casualties); that there were 1,000,000 refugees; that there are still around 17,000 missing persons. This Conference on Preventing Genocide in its activity is focused on the future, and the case and experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina surely can contribute to its work in regards to the various aspects of genocide: threats, responsibility, prevention and awareness.

Although the Peace Agreement was signed almost nine years ago, Bosnia and Herzegovina still has before her a challenging and responsible task.We know that a post-war period brings with it threats of repeated conflict flare-ups. It is not common sense to expect that yesterday's enemies, on opposite military fronts, sit down together at a table on their own and truly experience a catharsis – acknowledgement, remorse and forgiveness. Indeed, that is one of the reasons for the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It was necessary to assist the peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina so they begin mutual talks on peace and reconciliation.

For the parties to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina there exist different perceptions of what happened. It is necessary to allow each side to express its view of the situation, because feelings of guilt and onesidedness in responsibility for the bloody conflicts create tensions, which are the basis for future conflict. And thus the circle continues. In viewing history together, the political and emotional elements need to be abstracted, so that we can arrive at the very core of the crime and at the one and only truth. For crimes committed we seek individual responsibility, and not a political maneuver to equate the guilt, since that again forces the people to choose. Discovering the naked truth and our actions regarding it – arresting criminals, trying and punishing them – creates necessary preconditions for a peaceful coexistence.

Some will say that people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have “neither forgotten, nor forgiven” (Is reconciliation necessary – and possible – in BiH?). I continue by saying that each citizen must personally confront the past, not like some show it in propaganda, but as it truly is. Once aware and at peace with oneself, he/she can turn towards his/her neighbor to ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness, respectively. There is no collective reconciliation without individual reconciliation.

People should not be forced to forget recent history nor forced to remain quiet about the past. Forcing people to suppress their ethnic, religious or cultural identity means creating new frustrations. On the contrary, our country is in need of public discourse and rational discussions about the events during the war so that we can finally achieve satisfactory closure.

The case of Bosnia and Herzegovina can serve as a signpost in discussions concerning how to bridge the gap between threats of genocide and responsible political action. How can we make sure that the International Community protects the smaller and weaker? The hesitation concerning the Former Yugoslavia cannot be repeated again.We are all aware of this. At the moment we recognize the threat of armed conflict, the International Community must actively engage in creating conditions for dialogue. Responsible politicians need to show their people that they are ready to solve problems using dialogue and compromise, not weapons.

As we know, the solution of key questions today requires dialogue. Dialogue is the key instrument of promoting relations and cooperation between peoples. Dialogue is a fundamental condition for resolving misunderstandings and bringing closer distant attitudes.We from Bosnia and Herzegovina know very well how precious in value dialogue is.

I would like to welcome the efforts within Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, on the model of South Africa and others. Only such an institution could absolutely commit itself to research and investigate crimes from the past war. An especially difficult and responsible task would be before them. All victims need to be given a platform and be heard. They need the chance to publicly express their horrific experiences before an unbiased committee. Likewise, criminals need to be publicly tried and given the opportunity to publicly express remorse and ask forgiveness. Such a process of confronting what happened in the war secures Bosnia and Herzegovina's turnabout towards the future and her functioning according to modern, democratic principles.

The rule of law and respect for fundamental, inalienable human rights guarantees a peaceful coexistence and prosperity for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Threats to law and order need to be removed and our society must nurture a feeling of respect for legal provisions. By respecting the law we shall show our love and commitment to peace and prosperity. If we build into the foundation of our society “the force of the law” instead of “the law of force”, then we can be assured that the rights of the lesser numbered will be protected and respected. This is a guarantee for sustainable peace and coexistence in our country.