Ambassador Diego Arria received an honourary membership into the Council of the Congress of Bosniak Intellectuals (VKBI), Wednesday, during his visit to Bosnia.

In the premises of the Council, Ambassador Diego Arria, who came from Venezuela with his daughter Manuela, met with members of the Council and partner organizations Croat National Council, Krug 99. On this occasion, VKBI board member Edhem Bicakcic presented the Ambassador with the VKBI board prize at the ceremonial lecture held on December 22, 2020, when due to the epidemiological situation the Ambassador could not come.

During the almost two-hour meeting, the present members of the Council and Ambassador Arria discussed topics related to the period when Ambassador Arria was a member and chair of the UN Security Council, as well as the Euro-Atlantic perspectives of BiH and the challenges facing the Western Balkans.

Arria was previously hosted by the Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in BiH, Husein Kavazovic. The statement from the VKBI said that Arria advocated truth and justice, and as early as 1993 he spoke of “creeping genocide” and hinted at the crimes that would be committed in Srebrenica.

The Grand Mufti thanked him for his courage, skill and humanity as a diplomat.

Arria was also proposed for the recognition of Honorary Citizen of Sarajevo.