Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković participated in the 19th international conference Dubrovnik Forum, which was held on June 26 and 27 in Dubrovnik under the title “Age of multipolarity: many directions, one future”.
Dubrovnik Forum is one of the most important international forums in Southeastern Europe, which in the circumstances of increasingly pronounced geopolitical challenges represents an important platform for dialogue on security, international cooperation, the European future of the Western Balkans and the strengthening of the transatlantic partnership.
Speaking at a panel dedicated to the security and future of the Western Balkans, Konaković said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is going through the most serious crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, pointing out that today it is not an ethnic crisis, but primarily a geopolitical crisis caused by the strong Russian influence on the political processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasized that the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina and funds from the European Union Growth Plan are blocking the secessionist policies led by SNSD President Milorad Dodik, with the assessment that this is a political action that is directly directed against the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The minister warned that Dodik acts as a key bearer of Russian influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recalling that in the last year and a half he had eight official meetings with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, including the meeting after the military parade in Moscow in May this year. He pointed out that Dodik publicly calls Russia the most important ally of Republika Srpska and that it is precisely because of this geopolitical influence that he continuously blocks European reforms, the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the implementation of the Growth Plan.
Konaković warned that the international community must clearly recognize that this is not about the usual political disagreements, but about an organized attempt to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region through a secessionist policy that has the strong support of Moscow.
Speaking about security challenges, he said that any attempt at unilateral secession would represent a serious threat to the peace and stability of the entire region, stressing that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the right and obligation to protect its constitutional order and territorial integrity.
The minister devoted a special part of his address to the process of reconciliation in the region, stressing that it is not possible without accepting the facts established by the judgments of international courts. He emphasized that in part of the region, the genocide in Srebrenica is still denied, war criminals are glorified and protection is provided to the convicted perpetrators of the most serious crimes. Konaković particularly pointed to the fact that Serbia continues to refuse to face the past, denies the judicially established facts about the genocide in Srebrenica, and provides refuge and protection to certain legally convicted war criminals. As an example, he cited Novak Đukić, convicted of the crime at the Tuzla Gate, who has been in Serbia for years avoiding serving the final sentence. He pointed out that true reconciliation cannot be built on the denial of genocide, revisionism and glorification of war criminals, but solely on respect for international law, court rulings and the dignity of all victims.
Speaking about regional relations, Minister Konaković emphasized that at the same time there are positive examples of cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia. He singled out three joint advances as particularly significant – amendments to the Law on Foreigners, which open up the possibility of issuing special visas to professional drivers, the new Agreement on border crossings and the Interstate Agreement on the construction of the gas pipeline Southern Interconnection of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia.
At the same time, he warned that messages from certain political groups and individuals continue to come from the Republic of Croatia, which encroach on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through ideas about drawing maps, redoing the internal organization of the country and requests for the establishment of a third entity.
He expressed the hope that responsible policies aimed at mutual respect, stability and the European future of the region will prevail in Zagreb, as well as in Belgrade. He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina, precisely because of such attacks on its constitutional order, “sleeps with one eye open”, remaining determined to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order.
The Minister assessed that Bosnia and Herzegovina today has a historic opportunity to speed up European integration thanks to the European Union Growth Plan and the process of gradual integration, but that this opportunity will be lost if international partners do not recognize and stop destructive policies that block European reforms.
At the end of his speech, he called on the European Union, the United States of America and all international partners to remain strongly engaged in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, warning that the stability of the Western Balkans depends on decisive opposition to secessionism, malignant Russian influence, denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals, as well as on providing full support to European and democratic forces working to preserve peace, stability and the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to Minister Konaković, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimović, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Ferit Hoxha, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Gordan Grlić Radman, Member of the European Parliament Željana Zovko, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapetanović and Special Envoy for Southeast Europe and EU Enlargement of the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs Urlica Hartmann took part in the panel, the Office for Relations with public MFABiH.
