Bosnia and its two semi-autonomous entities have adequately responded to the coronavirus pandemic, Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency Chairman, Milorad Dodik, told the UN General Assembly in its Special Session in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic on Thursday.

Dodik said that he is honoured to speak at the session as the “Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Republika Srpska,” referring to Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity.

The Bosnian Serb leader said that “the coronavirus pandemic is a global health challenge and requires a global response.”

“Health systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in both its entities – Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, as well as in the Brcko District, have so far adequately responded to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to planning and implementation of measures by competent institutions, the commitment of medical professionals and the responsibility of citizens and the community,” he said.

The Presidency Chairman stressed the importance of good international cooperation and said that the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and many other donors helped Bosnia respond to the pandemic.

Dodik noted that Bosnia’s health authorities joined international efforts to acquire a COVID-19 vaccine.

The consequences of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic have been visible across all sectors in Bosnia since March already, he said.