Delivered by H. E. Mr. Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative
As the majority of Security Council members, Estonia abstained on the draft resolution, proposed by Russia and China. This text did not meet our expectations. The resolution was put forward to display divisions of the Council; not to resolve any of the issues at stake.
The fact that 13 members of the Security Council decided to abstain on the draft, shows that the initiative was not carried out in the spirit of compromise. Instead, the approach can be described as unaccommodating and unconstructive.
Estonia welcomes and agrees to the appointment of Mr. Christian Schmidt as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council is fully legitimate.
I reiterate Estonia’s full support for a robust and effective Office of High Representative. Its work remains relevant and instrumental in helping to facilitate dialogue, resolve disputes, and enhance coordination between the parties.
Estonia strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we are certain that its future is adjoined with the Euro-Atlantic path.