PRESS RELEASE Conference on Sustainable Development "Rio +20"



On June 20, 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development started in Rio de Janeiro, also known as Rio + 20. The conference was opened by Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, with her speech on the importance of the gathering and highlighting the most important elements of the document proposed for adoption by the highest representatives of many countries in the world, encouraging the states to act strongly in fulfilling the agreements.
The meeting, among others, was addressed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who spoke on the need for leadership in the world for a number of issues of sustainable development.

In his speech, Head of the Delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Mirko Sarovic cited the need for stronger management of issues relating to sustainable development, and stressed the importance of regional cooperation in these activities. Minister Sarovic also stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to, together with the international community, take its part of the obligations and responsibilities to make the current ecological crisis into a set of environmental opportunities, and help avoid the negative consequences for the environment predicted by the world's greatest experts.

Minister Sarovic particularly emphasized that the cooperation with the European Union is part of our daily activities, and welcomed and supported the efforts the European Union makes in the negotiating process. He said that in line with global challenges and specific needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is expected that future activities and investments should be focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency in manufacturing processes, efficient water use, better solid waste management, eco-friendly transport and organic agriculture. Minister Sarovic spoke about the specifics of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a mountainous country, and particularly emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina would try to achieve the concept of sustainability through the development and sustainable management of the mountain systems, because the mountains are a significant source of water, energy and biodiversity. In the context of global trends in environmental protection, tendency for the protection of mountain ecosystems and their management on the scientific basis will be a future priority for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mountain complexes are susceptible to accelerated soil erosion, landslides and rapid loss of habitat, which ultimately results in the reduction of genetic diversity.

The BiH delegation met with the representatives of Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and with the representatives of international organizations. Minister Sarovic had several short talks with Serbian President and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, who lead their countries' delegations.

During the day, the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in a side-event organized by the Chairman of Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, on the "Perspectives of Sustainable Development and Green Economy in the Adriatic-Ionian Region", which will highlight issues of importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of this regional cooperation.

The emphasis at the Conference was placed on the need to establish an equitable system of sustainable use of resources; it was stressed that the fight for the eradication of poverty is the most important question facing humanity and that the planet Earth gives great chances and opportunities for achieving sustainable development goals, which will replace the millennium development goals after the year 2015.

The document presented to the delegations for consideration provides the basis for further addressing the institutional framework for sustainable development, gives a stronger role to the UNEP, defines some of the economic elements for sustainable development, outlines the importance of the green economy, puts climate change and mountain regions, and many other issues, in the focus of interest and further work towards achieving the sustainable development goals. Generally, the document is acceptable to all the countries participating in the Conference Rio + 20, and provides a basis for future constructive and active cooperation in sustainable development.