Sarajevo: Mladen Ivanic, former Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed his views on the role of multilateral institutions during the event titled 'Advancing Housing Through Multilateralism: From Global Commitments to Local Impact,' held within the framework of WUF13. Ivanic highlighted that despite the challenges faced by his country, the crisis was not solely due to poverty.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Ivanic emphasized that multilateral institutions played a crucial role in addressing housing issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He noted that even if there had been no war, the country would still have struggled to provide housing for everyone. He credited numerous NGOs and prominent financial institutions, such as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank, with significantly contributing to the country's rebuilding efforts. Ivanic pointed out that during the war, 80 percent of homes in Bosnia were either destroyed or severely damaged, creating substantial challenges. He stressed the importance of international pressure on local structures, which ensured that housing restoration was prioritized over other potential projects, such as military infrastructure.

Ivanic also addressed the perception that multilateral institutions are in crisis. He disagreed with this view, attributing such opinions to varying political perspectives. He asserted that specialized multilateral organizations like UNESCO and the World Health Organization remain effective. While acknowledging crises in some areas due to political reasons, he maintained that these institutions continue to be competent and impactful. Ivanic urged countries to allocate more funding to institutions like the World Bank and the European Union to achieve tangible outcomes in global and local development efforts.