Sven Alkalaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Permanent Representative at the UN signed a Joint Statement on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between BiH and the Federal Republic of Somalia on February 4, 2022.

The statement was signed by the Somali Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman on behalf of his country, and the signing took place at the premises of the Permanent Mission of BiH to the UN in New York.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, the ambassadors exchanged views on the potential for improving bilateral cooperation, as well as on current topics within the UN.

The Somali Ambassador was particularly interested in Bosnia’s experience in terms of successfully building peace and trust in a post-conflict society, as well as the rapid economic recovery achieved by the country after the war. He expressed a desire to intensify contacts and exchange experiences in this regard. Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman announced the imminent opening of the Embassy of Somalia in Belgrade, which will cover BiH on a non-resident basis.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has so far established diplomatic relations with 182 UN member states, and intensive diplomatic communication is underway with the remaining 10 UN members, with whom diplomatic relations have not yet been formally established.