BOSNIAN PRESIDENT HARIS SILAJDŽIĆ TO ADDRESS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY

NEW YORK, UNITED NATIONS (September 23,2008) - The Bosnian President Silajdžić has today attended the UN plenary session in New York, dedicated to the African development problems. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Republic of France President Nicolas Sarkozy, among others, talked about the topic.The main topic of their and other addresses was the progress in implementation of UN projects in Africa, and the international support to the African continent and support within UN in the future.It was underlined that solidarity in the global world is very important, and should be maintained. It was underlined that the African countries are making progress in development, and the UN member countries’ support could help them toward the better future.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić has today co-chaired, together with the President of Ghana, John Agyekim Kufuor, the first round table (out of four held today) on the subject „African Development Needs: state of implementation of the given promises, challenges and the road ahead“.

In his address, President Silajdžić said that Africa must head toward the global economy, and expressed his support to the international community’s efforts in that path. He said that the African problem was in fact everybody’s problem and a better African future is a better future for all countries.

The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj said in his address that the African continent is faced with numerous challenges, and aid instruments are needed for helping the African countries. According to his words, Bosnia supports the UN activities in helping Africa, and as he stressed out, Bosnia is an example how the international community’s support could help in not only establishing peace in a country, but in making it stable and prosperous.

Bosnian President concluded the work of the round table by saying that Africa deserved development and progress, and it needed help in that path.

There has been the greatest interest shown by the UN members in participating in this round table, more than 40 participants, and among them, the Presidents of Namibia, Turkey, Slovenia, the Prime Minister of Croatia, officials of Morocco, Slovakia, Germany, Pakistan, Indonesia, Denmark, Sudan etc. talked about the African development needs.

On his first day in New York, the Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić met with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) General Director Kemal Darvish. During the meeting, they talked about the previous UNDP project in Bosnia, and the planned projects.

Among else, they stated that the today’s world globalization, cooperation, exchange of experience and joint action is the essence of all successful projects. They said that Africa was an example how to help the countries develop and head toward progress with joint action.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić has today met with the President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk. During the meeting, they talked about Bosnia’s candidature for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 2010/2011, and they talked about the official visit of the Slovenian President to Bosnia, announced for October, this year. They said that relations between the two countries are good; however, there are certain issues open for discussion, and that they would work on enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations between BiH and Slovenia in the future.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić attended the reception organized by the United States President George Bush for the heads of states and governments who are visiting New York at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić’s address to the UN General Assembly in New York is envisaged for today,September 23, during the afternoon session,the Bosnian State Presidency said.
.