A Lecture Organized by Atlantic Initiative
{gallery}newsletters/12/5{/gallery}Atlantic Initiative and the Embassy of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in BiH organized a lecture by Sir Emyr Jones Perry,* a distinguished British diplomat, at the Faculty of Criminal Sciences and Security Studies on November 8th.
Sir Jones Perry’s lecture paid special attention to the importance of Euro-Atlantic integration for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as well as the role and necessity of strengthening multilateralism in international relations. The United Nations, European Union and NATO are the core international organizations in today’s world, said Sir Jones Perry. While these organizations provide us with multiple examples of best practices for multilateral bodies, they too are taxed with the need for reform and improvement.
The emergence and increase in significance of both unconventional threats and non-state actors in international relations require that states revise current approaches to combating new threats. This can only be achieved via multilateral cooperation.
“Today, interests of a state transcend the state’s territorial borders. Therefore, cooperation represents a more efficient, faster and permanent form of establishing relations in the world,” noted Sir Jones Perry.
Later in his lecture, Sir Jones Perry focused on the benefits BiH will derive via NATO and EU membership. Although both organizations currently provide assistance to BiH in its efforts to introduce reforms, international organizations should not be expected to assume responsibility for this country’s political fate. BiH’s own political representatives should be held to the highest level of accountability. Sir Jones Perry commented that these domestic leaders are the individuals who must find enough political courage to take the initiative.
The lecture and subsequent discussion was attended by numerous NGO sector representatives, the Armed Forces of BiH, representatives of the OHR, the academic community and the media. One guest of particular note was the Ambassador of the UK and Northern Ireland to BiH, Michael Tatham.
Atlantic Initiative’s Secretary General, Dr. Vlado Azinović, moderated the event. Azinović announced that similar lectures may be expected in the future.
A.A. – A. Z.
* Sir Emyr Jones Parry is a British diplomat with extensive credentials and experience. His diplomatic career began in 1973 and several positions of particular note were appointments as the Ambassador of the UK and Northern Ireland to NATO and the United Nations. Sir Jones Parry holds a PhD in physics.
