In his new year’s message to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the High Representative of the international community in BiH, Christian Schmidt, urged young people to stay in the country and contribute to its future.

Schmidt is the international official overseeing the civilian implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement.

“Every citizen and every family can decide to stay here, especially young people, but that means that a better economic and social environment with more stability must be created for them, they need better roads, these are the things that people need and I hope that in the coming year 2022 we will be able to declare our victory over the pandemic,” Schmidt told N1.

Schmidt urged Bosnia’s citizens to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. He also said he received letters from young people asking him whether they should be worried about Bosnia’s future.

“I would say that of course there are things that are not good, but if we work together on our togetherness and on developing our community then BiH has a pretty good chance,” he said.

“So, young people, stay here in the country, help build it up, primarily because your families in your country depend on you and I hope that together we will be able to contribute to it,” he added.

Schmidt said he is determined to help Bosnia move forward on EU integration, as well as on building up a healthy social environment.

“I wish everyone in BiH all the best in the coming year,” he said.