Bosnian leader’s visit ‘marks 25 years of diplomatic ties’
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed Dragan Cˇovic´, chairman of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Parliament yesterday.
Cˇovic´, the chairman of a rotating three-person body that makes up the presidency, first met with outgoing speaker David Carter.
It was Ardern’s first official state visit as prime minister, although she had received Irish President Michael Higgins as prime minister-designate.
‘‘Can I, on behalf of New Zealanders, extend our warmest welcome to you, and it’s timely that you are here now to mark the 25th anniversary, as it were, of our official diplomatic relationship, so warmest welcomes,’’ Ardern said.
The country - commonly known as Bosnia - gained independence from the collapsing state of Yugoslavia in 1992.
Through an interpreter, Cˇovic´ thanked New Zealand for that diplomatic recognition. ‘‘It was a very important time for us.’’
Ardern noted that New Zealand defence forces had helped out with peacekeeping in the region, which was beset by war and massacres, for 15 years - something she said not many New Zealanders would know about.
Four observers were sent to the former Yugoslavian region in March 1992. They were later joined by five military observers, two of whom were injured while serving a United Nations mission. It was the first military deployment New Zealand had made since the Vietnam War.