Bosnia's Presidency Chair Denis Becirovic said at the "Rebuilding Ukraine" Summit in Berlin that that country's defence is the common interest of all democratic states in Europe and the world.

He pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina advocates respect for international law, equality, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principle of peaceful cooperation and that the country strongly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“Today, more than ever, it is necessary to support Ukraine in its just struggle for freedom. The competent authorities of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine as an act of violation of international law. After the Russian aggression, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the positions of the European Union which strongly expresses its support for Ukraine. Solidarity and united support for Ukraine are of fundamental importance for the entire democratic and free world,” said Becirovic.

He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina fully understands the suffering and destruction that Ukraine is going through because from 1992 to 1995 it was a victim of brutal aggression during which the genocide of Bosniaks in Srebrenica was committed.

“No country in Europe, in the second half of the 20th century, suffered such great destruction as Bosnia and Herzegovina did. After the war, the GDP fell to some 25 percent of its pre-war level, industrial production declined by more than 90 percent, and unemployment reached between 70 and 80 percent. However, with the help of our allies, we have recovered and we are ready to share our experiences of post-war recovery with friendly Ukraine,” Becirovic noted.

He emphasized that Bosnia and Ukraine belong to the community of free and democratic states and that together the two countries share a vision of a world in which peace, freedom, justice and human dignity are fundamental values.

The Presidency Chair said that Bosnia's solidarity with Ukraine stems from a deep understanding of the importance of preserving these values and that Bosnia can be a reliable ally in the reconstruction of Ukraine.