prijava
WASHINGTON, October 6 (FENA) - A candidate for the new United States Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Michael Murphy, said at a hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that the focus of his work in BiH would be on constitutional reforms, rule of law, economy and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Murphey announced a great US support for BiH's Euro-Atlantic path
“If confirmed, I look forward to returning to Sarajevo, where I served from 2006-2009. I found the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina welcoming and friendly, and I am eager to engage with them again,” Murphy said at the beginning of his speech.
He stressed that there has been a “strong bipartisan consensus throughout my career that a Europe as a whole, prosperous, and at peace is in our national interest.”
As Radio Free Europe reported, in his introductory speech, Murphy promised the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, i.e. fulfillment of five goals and two conditions for BiH's exit from the international supervision regime and thus closing the Office of the High Representative (OHR), and ensuring the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He stressed that the United States must be more present in the Western Balkans, and especially in BiH, and announced the great support of the United States on BiH's Euro-Atlantic path.
He also pointed out that the United States must motivate domestic politicians to work on reforms for the benefit of citizens and the state.
The United States supports NATO's open-door policy and BiH's aspirations to join the alliance.
"Russia, on the other hand, has a different vision of BiH than the United States. It represents a vision of a failed state with tensions that do not abate. We must fight this malignant influence. China has a different approach, it sees its opportunity in the corruption that is ubiquitous in the country. We need to see our opportunity in the fight against that corruption,” Murphy said.
In early July, US President Joe Biden chose Murphy as the person to represent US policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the proposal, the White House sent a nomination proposal to the US Senate, which should confirm this nomination.
Murphy has 29 years of experience and currently works as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. His portfolio includes European security, conventional arms control and Arctic security, according to a biography published on the State Department's website.
Before leaving for Kosovo in 2009, where he served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy in Pristina, he was also in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He worked in Sarajevo for three years as a political adviser at the US Embassy. He currently holds the diplomatic rank of Minister Adviser.
(FENA) S. R.
