A group of representatives of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH)diaspora in Sweden has sent an open letter to the Swedish government, expressing concern over the political crisis in BiH and demanding urgent measures to preserve peace and stability.
The letter is addressed to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marija Malmer Stenergard, Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz, and Swedish Ambassador to BiH Helena Lagerlof.
We present the letter in its entirety:
“With great concern, we address you, representatives of the Swedish government, on behalf of the citizens of BiH and the BiH-Swedish civil society. We, citizens of Sweden of BiH origin, are grateful for Sweden’s continuous support for our homeland during the post-war period and its commitment to BiH‘s Euro-Atlantic integration. Sweden’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans is of utmost importance.
Recent political developments in BiH, particularly following the Supreme Court ruling against Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, have led to an alarming crisis. Dodik has been sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding public office for disregarding the decision of the Office of the High Representative (OHR). In response, Dodik has escalated his attempts to undermine BiH‘s constitutional order. He has ordered his party and other Bosnian Serb representatives to withdraw from state institutions and enacted a law prohibiting BiH‘s judicial and security institutions from operating within the RS.
These actions represent a direct violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which has been the foundation of peace in the country since the war ended in 1995. Despite previous sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.) on Dodik, his family, and his closest associates – both at the entity and state level – due to corruption and destabilizing activities, Dodik’s latest actions pose an even greater threat. There is a risk that the situation will further escalate, endangering the stability of BiH and the security of the Western Balkans and all of Europe.
Furthermore, we are concerned about the lack of a unified and stable European foreign policy. Several factors seem to be contributing to the destabilization of the region. The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs has pledged support to Dodik should the situation escalate into violence. We are aware of Hungary’s economic interests, such as the exploitation of lithium in the RS. Serbia’s open support for Dodik’s separatist efforts is seen as a continuation of the aggression against BiH from the 1990s, which led to the genocide against BiH‘s non-Serb population. Serbia’s ongoing ambitions for a ‘Greater Serbia’ pose a serious threat to regional stability. Even Croatia, due to its own interests in BiH, has undermined the country’s democracy, among other things, by supporting Serbian separatist activities, demonstrating that it continues to follow the ideological line of Franjo Tudjman, which led to a conviction for a joint criminal enterprise (JCE).
We call on the Swedish government to immediately take strong measures to counter Dodik’s destructive and separatist activities. It is of the utmost importance to act swiftly to protect peace and stability in BiH and, in doing so, contribute to the security of Europe. The long-term actions of secessionist forces have rendered any dialogue meaningless. These actors have denied genocide for decades and have deliberately undermined the Constitution of BiH.
We expect your prompt response with a report on the measures the Swedish government intends to take regarding this urgent matter. The people of BiH, as well as the large BiH diaspora in Sweden, rely on continued international support to uphold peace, human rights, democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in BiH.”
The letter was signed by representatives of several BiH associations in Sweden: Adnan Mahmutovic, President of the Federation of BiH Associations in Sweden (BHRF); Mehmed Hasanbegovic, President of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Sweden (Izbus); Alma Softic, President of the BiH Women’s Federation in Sweden (BHKRF); Fatima Veladzic, President of the BiH-Swedish Women’s Federation in Sweden (BHSKF); Dzanina Karic, President of the APU Network; Nazif Hasanovic, President of the BiH Business Association in Sweden (BHNS); Kerim Kapetanovic, President of the BiH Muslim Youth Federation in Sweden (Bemuf); and Nermina Culesker, President of the BiH Youth Federation in Sweden (BHUF).
