The Network for Building Peace, a coalition of 217 organizations and schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is this year’s winner of the “Bridge for the Future” Francophone Award, which is awarded each year by members of the Francophone ambassadors and heads of mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The award ceremony was held on May 4, 2021 at 3 p.m. in front of the premises of the Association of Network for Building Peace.
Statement of the Francophone ambassadors and heads of missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
We, members of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors and Heads of Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, come from different cultures, spread around the world. However, two things unite us: we share a fondness for this country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and, for various reasons, the same language in which, above all, we speak a common language. We would like to highlight and reward the efforts that are going in this direction.
This year, for the fifth consecutive year, a group of Francophone ambassadors to Bosnia and Herzegovina is awarding the “Bridge for the Future” award. This recognition aims to publicly reward individuals or groups for the exemplary way in which they have addressed the issue of intercultural dialogue and the culture of dialogue in this multi-community and multicultural country. With this symbolic award we would like to show that there is a will to build bridges between different communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We have decided to present the “Bridge for the Future” award to the “Network for Building Peace” this year.
“The Network for Building Peace” was founded on the initiative of Goran Bubalo. In 2010, the Network gathered more than 200 organizations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, working on projects in very important areas such as inter-community dialogue, dialogue between different religions and protection and promotion of human rights in general, with a special focus on women’s rights and vulnerable groups rights, such as people on the move and LGBTI people.
All members of the “The Network for Building Peace”, each in their own field, share the same goal: to strengthen lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Civil society plays a key role in strengthening peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Network for Building Peace has provided its member NGOs with a platform for dialogue, exchange and coordination that has enabled them to strengthen their activities. The Network is also committed to building constructive dialogue and exchange between communities, in order to overcome the wounds of the past.
The title of the award is “Bridge for the Future”: this title perfectly describes the meaning of the activities carried out by the “The Network for Building Peace”, because it brings together organizations that act in the interest of all citizens of this country, regardless of their origin and affiliation, helping to “build bridges“ between communities and strengthen their understanding around common goals.
We are therefore happy and honored to be able to thank the “The Network for Building Peace” on the occasion of Francophonie Days to celebrate the universal values that are important to us for dialogue, peace, cooperation, solidarity and sustainable development.
Signatories:
H.E. Christine Toudic, Ambassador of France to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Daniel Hunn, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Ulrike Hartmann, Ambassador of Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Margret Webber, Ambassador of Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Nicola Minasi, Ambassador of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Reinout Vos, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Dimitrios Papandreou, Ambassador of Greece to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
H.E. Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR),
H.E. Margret Webber, Ambassador of Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Ekrem Ebibi, Ambassador of Northern Macedonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Yasser Sorour, Ambassador of Egypt to Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Philippe Donckel, Ambassador of Luxembourg to Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Caroline Charette, Ambassador of Canada to Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Antun Pacuretu, Ambassador of Romania to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mrs. Lara Lungarotti, Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans and IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Mission
Mrs. Bojana Urumova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo
Mr. Andrew Jewell, IMF Resident Representative
Mr. William Asselborn, Head of the Diplomatic Bureau of Belgium in Bosnia and Herzegovina
