H.E. Dr. Christian Hellbach, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to B&H, visited the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo on 15 April 2015. After a brief introductory talk with the Faculty’s management and academic staff representatives, Ambassador Hellbach delivered a lecture to students, focusing on the initiative of the governments of Germany and Great Britain, aiming to help B&H to achieve progress in the Stabilization and Association Process.

In his speech, Dr. Hellbach pointed out that the implementation of the Sejdic-Finci ruling is not forgotten in this initiative. According to him, it is unacceptable that a certain percentage of the B-H population declaring as “Other” to be deprived of certain fundamental rights. He also noted that that the problems with the implementation of the decision block other, more urgent changes. The discord in the implementation of this decision is often used as a pretext to avoid implementation of certain reforms, particularly those in the economic and social plan. When addressing the young people in particular, H.E. stressed that B&H is a country with the highest unemployment rate in the region and Europe and that it primarily affects young population. H. E. pointed out other problems Bosnia and Herzegovina faces such as the large external debt that increased significantly in the past year, the fact that in B&H, on average, has the minimal foreign investment in the region and the striking problem with corruption. In the continuation of his lecture, H.E. Ambassador Hellbach presented what should be the effect of the Anglo German initiative and what should be done by the BH authorities when it comes to the Stabilization and Association Process.

After the introductory presentation, a Q&A session for students and academic staff followed. In a very open and sincere dialogue with the students, H.E. Ambassador Hellbach said that they would be the bearers of the reform process that would last long, and that it was necessary to look forward, not in the past.