Although the year brought a number of challenges that we have dealt with to a greater or lesser extent successfully, I would say that at the end of 2025 it is clear that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to walk the Dayton steps, permanently anchored in the principle of equality of the three constituent peoples, said in a New Year’s interview for Večernji list BiH, the president of the HDZ BiH and the vice-chairman of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Dragan Čović.
Čović considers the preservation of peace and stability in BiH to be the key political success of the year that is coming to an end.
“On numerous occasions in the last 12 months, we have witnessed harsh words, threats and attempts to overthrow the government, which, if they had come true, would have led to much bigger problems than those we were faced with anyway. At the same time, I would say that we have achieved exceptional success in explaining the importance of preserving the Dayton framework, and significant understanding of the member states of the European Union, as well as partners around the world, about the systematic obstruction of our Croatian rights that is continuously repeated throughout election cycles. Of course, the biggest the missed opportunity is reflected in the fact that, despite all the effort, we still failed to open the negotiation process with the European Union, which we attribute to the instability of the internal dialogue and the chronic resort to alibi-politics. Here, I am primarily talking about the failure to adopt the necessary European laws, where we have invested a great deal of effort, hoping that all partners will recognize the importance of their adoption. However, we leave this year with three clear messages – BiH will preserve its stability, achieve a European future and build both on the Dayton principle of constitutivity, said Čović.
The fact is, he says, that the US administration in its new mandate under the leadership of President Donald Trump has significantly changed its approach towards BiH. According to him, although the basic goals have largely remained the same, a new, improved and pragmatic approach is noticeable, which expresses the need for independent cooperation and participation in new solutions among the three constituent peoples without the coercive action of international factors.
“As for our priorities, I would say that they are largely aligned today. Peace, stability, territorial integrity, sovereignty and multiethnic character are goals to which we are deeply committed, with, of course, the participation of American representatives, but not necessarily in a political sense as much as in an economic sense. It is precisely such capital that is desirable in BiH today and we continue to work dedicatedly with representatives of the US administration to ensure exactly such a climate that will enable further American investments in our country,” said Čović.
He hopes that the issue of the Southern Interconnection will be a positive exception and that we are on the threshold of the realization of the largest modern energy project. The Southern Gas Interconnection today in a practical sense represents a connection to all centers in BiH through a new supply route. However, in another sense, it also represents energy diversification and long-term stability of BiH.
“The entry of American partners into this project represents a new moment that promises a realistic, unhindered construction of the gas pipeline, but also the elimination of BH-Gas as an imposed company that, in addition to not employing a single representative of Croatian interests, does not possess the professional qualifications, capacity, knowledge or potential to implement such a serious project. I cannot say for sure whether anyone will resort to jeopardizing the implementation of the Southern Gas Interconnection. However, what I can say is that it will not be the Croatian side. As before, we continue our dedicated and active cooperation in ensuring that the Southern Gas Interconnection is built as soon as possible and that it is led by experts who, in addition to their professional qualifications, will also represent a national, or constitutive element in the project,” believes Čović.
In his words, mutual respect for the rights of the constituent peoples and respect for the agreements made is a space in which “we can find the necessary long-term compromises”.
“That is a hard limit for us. We will not go below that line. I also believe that the political scene after the next general elections will be significantly more stable, and will be formed with all those who are ready to accept the equal participation of the Croatian people in all institutions and at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Dragan Čović in an interview for today’s Večernji list.
