On the occasion of the elections to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 October, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle made the following statement today:

”I hope these elections will mark a turning point for the country. The time has come for Bosnia and Herzegovina to assume full responsibility for their own future. The overdue reforms that are being blocked by nationalistic politics must be tackled after the elections.

As I underscored in Sarajevo during my trip to the Balkans in late August, only together can Bosnia and Herzegovina follow the path towards the European Union. Germany remains committed to this EU prospect. To bring their country on the road to Europe, the political leaders need to speak to the outside world with a unified voice and need urgently to display greater willingness for reform and compromise internally. As a partner and a friend, Germany will do everything it can to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fulfilment of the tasks that lie ahead.“