The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, held a media conference where he reflected on his previous work and participation in the Munich Security Conference.
At the beginning of the conference, Konaković referred to his trip to Turkey and the meeting with the head of Turkish diplomacy, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
“Our trip to Turkey was a difficult journey. Our intention to meet with Cavusoglu was planned for March, more precisely at the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, but due to the situation we felt the need to visit the place of suffering and see those terrible pictures. We carry special emotions that are difficult for the human brain to accept. Thank you to everyone who went to save lives. They did a superb job. A stain remained due to the uncoordinated sending of units,” said Konaković.
He also referred to his visit to Hatay, which was particularly affected by the earthquake.
“After the conversation, I was in Hatay, where part of our forces are stationed. People from the Mountain Rescue Service said that they have administrative problems in their functioning and we have already started this story at the FBiH and cantonal level in order to solve their status and administrative problem.” Konaković points out.
After Turkey, Konaković participated in the Munich Security Conference.
“It is a place where a large number of world leaders are at one time. It is a place where important topics are discussed and we return from Munich very satisfied. We held a large number of meetings with the strongest world powers. I have the impression that BiH is slowly coming into focus of all those who are important. I regret that BiH diplomacy did not do this continuously. We have committed to be present at the places where important decisions are made,” Konaković opined.
He also referred to the talks he had in Munich with a number of world officials.
“We spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Annalena Baerbock. We were convinced that Germany is one of the most important partners. We also spoke with the ministers of Spain, Sweden, Austria, France, Great Britain, the Secretary General of the OSCE, the Minister of the Netherlands, as well as colleagues from Serbia and Croatia,” he explained.
He points out that he returned from Munich with much more optimism than before.
“I came back from Munich with much more Euro-optimism than before. This is a moment that is unfortunately happening to Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the aggression against Ukraine. In this way, we regained focus and candidate status for the EU. This is a moment that we must take advantage of and another in a series intersection. We took the wrong turn at the previous one,” said the head of Bosnia and Herzegovina. diplomacy.
After returning from Munich, Konaković emphasized that he was awaited by a pro-Russian offensive in Bosnia and Herzegovina from a party that had not shown such a course of action before.
“I was met with a pro-Russian offensive even from those who stood for the Euro-Atlantic path. I was met with statements that we should turn to China and Russia. We are turning people who helped Bosnia and Herzegovina into enemies. I publicly ask all those who do this. Who are our friends? Is there an agenda that we turn 180 degrees under the handbrake and what does that mean? Because one party is not in power, we should look for salvation in Putin’s regime,” Konaković said.
He emphasizes that such a course change would be a big mistake.
“What would it mean if, in our acts, we begin to change the path towards the EU towards Asia. It is an important political issue that I do not consider a scream just because someone is not the government,” he points out.
During the talks in Munich, Konaković also referred to the session related to the Western Balkans.
“An important segment in Munich was the session on the Western Balkans. It was quite closed. Very few media were present. It was attended by the leaders of the Western Balkans. The focus of the plenum was on the negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo. Lajčak showed a dose of optimism and it was said that in the coming weeks in Brussels that issue should be resolved. I’m not optimistic. I have to notice the pictures in which Scholz, Macron and Blinken also focused on that very issue. At that meeting we made it clear that nobody thought that binds us to some trade between Kosovo and Serbia and we were assured that it will not happen,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Unlike some earlier meetings, the head of Bosnia and Herzegovina of diplomacy said that BiH was not the worst at a meeting for the first time.
“After a long time, we were talked about in a positive light. Rapid adoption of the budget, formation of the Council of Ministers. For the first time, we were put in a position of mild optimism. I can say that we are flattered at times, but the real trials are yet to come,” emphasizes Konaković.
At the end of the conference, Elmedin Konaković announced that he will hold meetings with officials in Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia in the coming days, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
