The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, participated in a ministerial meeting in Washington dedicated to the worrying resurgence of political terrorism, held at the invitation of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The meeting, hosted by the State Department, brought together ministers and high-ranking officials from 65 countries with the aim of strengthening international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other contemporary security threats. The focus of the discussion was on current security challenges, strengthening the exchange of information and intelligence, protection of critical infrastructure, border security, ending financing of terrorist networks, and improving a coordinated international response to new forms of politically motivated terrorism.
Alerts on security threats and political extremism
On the occasion of the ministerial meeting, Minister Konaković pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly condemns politically motivated terrorism and all forms of extremist activity directed against democratic institutions, the constitutional order and the rule of law, stressing that terrorism can never be an acceptable means of political activity or an instrument for achieving political goals.
He reminded that the experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina shows that organized political extremism, if not recognized and stopped in time, can turn from incendiary rhetoric into violence with devastating consequences. He emphasized that systematic attacks on the constitutional order, democratic institutions and the rule of law must never be relativized or presented as ordinary political conflicts, because it is the weakening of institutions that opens up space for the activities of extremist actors.
Konaković warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina still faces continuous attempts to undermine state institutions, secessionist rhetoric and actions that threaten the constitutional order established by the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Attacks on the constitutional order are dangerous patterns
He pointed out that such policies deepen political polarization, increase security risks and represent a threat to the peace and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire region of the Western Balkans.
He especially emphasized that the denial of war crimes, the glorification of convicted war criminals, hate speech, dehumanization and continuous attacks on the constitutional order are not just part of political rhetoric, but dangerous patterns that destroy trust in democratic institutions and create conditions in which politically motivated terrorism and extremism can grow stronger.
Speaking about the current challenges, Minister Konaković pointed to the activities of SNSD president Milorad Dodik, pointing out that his long-standing secessionist policy, continuous attacks on the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and open political alignment with the interests of the Russian Federation represent one of the most serious threats to the constitutional order and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He emphasized that attempts to present such a policy to international partners as pro-Western stand in complete contrast to its actual operation, while the orchestrated campaign of secessionist actors and their lobbyists, based on spreading false narratives and undermining state institutions, aims to weaken international support for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its democratic order.
International cooperation and bilateral meetings in Washington
He concluded that a successful fight against politically motivated terrorism implies not only a decisive response to security threats, but also timely recognition and suppression of phenomena that create space for their escalation. He pointed out that secessionist politics, hate speech, dehumanization, denial of war crimes, glorification of convicted war criminals and systematic attacks on democratic institutions, constitutional order and the rule of law represent serious warnings to which the international community must react before they turn into more serious security threats.
He emphasized that strong democratic institutions, the rule of law and close international cooperation are key to preserving the peace, stability and security of democratic societies.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Minister Konaković participated in a working lunch arranged for the participants by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
After the ministerial meeting, a bilateral meeting with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Daniel Lawton, is planned, during which they will discuss the improvement of bilateral cooperation, the current political situation in BiH and the region, and a joint response to contemporary security challenges, announced the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
