The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, held his annual press conference today, where he spoke about meetings held over the past year, the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the geopolitical stage, the country’s path toward the European Union, and challenges within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic and consular network.
At the beginning of the address, Konaković highlighted numerous meetings held over the past year between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international partners.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina will no longer be discussed anywhere without us. We are always present to present the truth about Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he emphasized, also pointing to the engagement of Denis Bećirović, a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that “the results are already clearly visible.”
Among the interlocutors, he added, were partners and friends from the United States, Europe, the Middle East, as well as representatives of numerous international organizations.
“We have met with all of those mentioned, and many others, at least once. We have not even included telephone conversations when necessary. We often call on our friends for support to explain what is happening. This is now much easier than it was at the beginning of the mandate. Friendships have been renewed and strengthened,” Konaković said, stressing that lobbying and advocacy by influential countries on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina are extremely important.
He also highlighted numerous multilateral meetings, as well as so-called “pull-aside” meetings, which last between 10 and 15 minutes, but during which key issues are often effectively raised, delegated, or resolved.
More than 50 visits by high-ranking officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina were also realized.
“I ask you to recall previous mandates and the narrative that all important countries were avoiding Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he added.
Konaković also spoke about work on bilateral and multilateral agreements, particularly those related to easing visa regimes between Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries.
“The passport of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been significantly better positioned over the past three years. This is not merely symbolic, but it has a real value,” he emphasized, adding that in 2026 he expects visa facilitation with several of the 20 countries for which procedures have already been initiated.
When it comes to EU integration, he recalled that the last two European Commission reports gave the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a “perfect score.”
“We remain 100 percent aligned with the European Union, which is a key obligation under the Stabilization and Association Agreement. Within two Berlin Process summits, we proposed joint declarations that were unanimously adopted, concerning regional cooperation and the role of women in diplomacy,” Konaković stated.
“The Russian Submarine and HDZ’s Embrace of SNSD”
Referring to key obligations facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on its EU path, Konaković expressed expectations that two historic laws would be adopted in both chambers of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as that an Office of the Chief EU Negotiator would be established.
“The obstacle to these two laws is the Russian submarine called SNSD, and HDZ, which remains firmly embraced with SNSD, prioritizing relations with Dodik over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward the EU,” he said.
Konaković also addressed problems in the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic-consular network, directly linked to the failure to adopt a new rulebook that would significantly improve the system.
“We submitted the rulebook to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it was never placed on the agenda. I also criticize Borjana Krišto for never putting it on the agenda. The document was harmonized with the Ministry of Justice, yet it was never voted on. What we are dealing with is a systematization dating back to the time of Jadranko Prlić. Diplomacy worldwide has undergone drastic changes, yet we are unable to adapt,” he warned.
He also recalled efforts to resolve accommodation issues for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic missions in cities such as New York, which will result in significant savings, as well as in Vienna and Budapest, where reconstruction is underway of properties acquired through succession.
“It is important that people know what we are doing, even when there are no photographs,” he added.
Regarding the political situation, Konaković said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing its greatest crisis since the Dayton Peace Agreement, but also its greatest opportunities since Dayton.
In this context, he commented on the actions of Milorad Dodik, the former President of Republika Srpska.
“I remind you that Dodik’s priorities were secession, the removal of foreign judges from the Constitutional Court, the abolition of the Court’s jurisdiction, banning the work of the Prosecutor’s Office and SIPA in Republika Srpska, taking over the state borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, relocating the seat of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Banja Luka. These priorities ranked far higher than the removal of sanctions. In order for sanctions to be lifted, he had to renounce all of those priorities in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska,” Konaković said.
He added that one of Dodik’s priorities was also placing Bosnia and Herzegovina and its energy sector under full Russian control, a goal that was likewise not achieved.
“He gained nothing except personal satisfaction, spending his own money,” Konaković stated, adding that significant responsibility also lies with the political bloc Trojka, which “endured attacks and ultimately stripped the strongest opponent of this system of its leverage, while also exposing Dragan Čović, who must now clearly state whether his priority is Dodik or Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future in the European Union.”
