Baroness Mobarik
Main Page: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Mobarik (Con)
My Lords, many voices were raised during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, but it was only after Srebrenica that the world took action. I visited Bosnia shortly after the Dayton peace agreement was signed and I encountered a country traumatised by four years of war, devastated communities, immense human suffering and the enduring scars of ethnic hatred and violence. For me, it illustrated that conflicts rarely emerge without warning. Too often, we fail to act when tensions are building and respond only when events have reached an unacceptable pitch and action can no longer be avoided.
I believe we should recognise the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina today for what it is: a grave political and constitutional crisis. I do not suggest that the country stands on the brink of war; however, a number of developments should concern us. Secessionist rhetoric continues to challenge the territorial integrity of the state; genocide denial persists, despite the fact that the genocide at Srebrenica was established by international courts and must never be rewritten or diminished; there are disagreements surrounding the appointment of a new high representative, whose independence and impartiality are fundamental to the Dayton framework; and, at the same time, we see increasing Russian influence in the region, closer Serbian defence ties with China and a significant shift in US policy towards figures associated with secessionist ambitions.
Taken individually, each of these developments may appear manageable; taken together, they suggest a weakening of the international consensus that has underpinned peace since 1995. If we are serious about atrocity prevention, we must recognise warning signs before they become crises. Having seen Bosnia in the aftermath of war, I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that the principles of Dayton remain firmly protected and that emerging risks are addressed before circumstances deteriorate further.