The US Ambassador to BiH Patrick Moon is an absolute optimist regarding a better future for BiH, because despite the political division and the nationalist rhetoric of the political echelon of this country, there are many BiH citizens who believe that a better future is possible.
“I firmly believe that the citizens of this country will overcome the current political challenges, and this will happen with the support, although not a direct intervention, of the international community. Be assured that the US will continue to be your reliable partner’’, announced today in Sarajevo Ambassador Moon during his farewell speech, hosted by the Center for New Initiatives (CNI)
Ambassador Moon will leave in a few weeks, and he said today that his successor will be equally committed to deepening the friendship between the US and BiH and would help our country make progress on the path to EU integration.
Looking back on the past three years in BiH, Ambassador Moon said that the brightest moments during his mandate in our country were meetings with energetic and determined individuals, who worked daily to create a better future for BiH, for people who put diversity in second place in order to find a common platform so that this country could, step by step, come closer to the EU.
“There is no Bosniak tax policy or a Croatian way of job creation or a Serbian way to develop agriculture. There are all mutual questions that require a common and efficient solution. Your actions and a firm commitment to build a better BiH for all its citizens, is in firm contrast to the other tendencies that I have seen over the past three years, the strong tendency of politicians to maintain the status quo’’, said Ambassador Moon while addressing young activists and representatives of nonprofit organizations in the amphitheater of UNITIC business center.
He warned that BiH is increasingly lagging behind its neighbors, because in contrast to the countries in the region, it has not carried out the necessary reforms in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. However, despite the disappointing setback, he believes that BiH could catch up, and maybe even surpass some of its neighbors.
He said that BiH has all the natural resources and talented and committed people who are essential for the development of the economy. He also assessed that BiH could become a successful democratic country, and that its institutions could protect the rights of its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or origins.
“Membership in the EU and NATO represents the only possible future for a sovereign BiH. Just joining NATO and the EU could bring reform, stability and prosperity and economic opportunities that this country urgently needs. Failure to make progress will mean further deterioration of the economic situation, the further reduction of foreign investment and the loss of young, talented people who will look for a better future somewhere else’’, said Moon.
According to his him, BiH will work hard on the process of joining NATO, will continue in reforming and modernizing the BiH Armed Forces, and would thus rationalize the work of security institutions, and establish security and stability in the country and in the region.
Steady progress towards EU membership will open the doors to multiple markets, establish mechanisms for the protection of BiH citizens through the standards of the quality and safety of products and would harmonize laws so that citizens know their rights and obligations.
“This would encourage the necessary investment, create new jobs and create cycles of economic growth and prosperity’’, said Moon.
He stressed that it is the right time for politics to stop meddling in the economy, and added that BiH needs a single market in order to attract investment and make progress towards the EU.
“BiH can no longer afford to have a government that does not have a long-term strategy of investment and that uses the budget to ensure citizens short-term subsidies that cannot improve the economic capacity of the country’’, warned Moon.
He stressed that in BiH, in first place, political reforms are necessary, which he claimed to be essential for a prosperous and democratic future.
“First is the reform of the Constitution. The Dayton Agreement was created in the whirlwind of war in order to stop the terrible bloodshed that began in the 1990’s. The US was always clear about its support for the Dayton Agreement in BiH. Dayton has achieved its primary objective and it served the citizens of this country well. However, even though democracy and stability have taken hold, the provisions have been designed to establish peace and stability, to ensure the protection of various ethnic groups, and are now being abused as an instrument to obstruct progress. Through attempts to solve the “Sejdić-Finci” case, it has become clear that it would be necessary to make more changes to the FBiH Constitution so that BiH moves closer to EU membership’’, said Moon.
He reiterated that the implementation of a solution in response to the ruling at the European Court of Human Rights in the “Sejdić-Finci” case is an essential step.
However, he said that BiH political parties must reform in order to better reflect democratic principles. Moon considers that this would open BiH political parties to democratic debate and different opinions.
He welcomed the civic protests because they are an indicator that the “citizens of BiH are frustrated with the status quo and are tired of the farcical behavior of the political class that is more concerned with privilege that goes with the job that they do, rather than the future of BiH”.
He said that people all over the country have drawn attention to their situation. He added that at that moment, they may have had different requirements, but they sent the same message, that it is time for politicians to correct their behavior on the political scene.
“It is time to deliver long-promised results that have not been fulfilled. These citizens do not wish to hold anyone hostage or to threaten any Member of Parliament or government official, nor to force this or that group to obey. No. They are gathering in a peaceful and dignified way in order to request their rights-for politicians to do their jobs for which they were elected to do. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what a healthy democracy looks like’’, concluded Moon.
He told young people and those with good intentions to not give up the fight for a better tomorrow.
“I believe that neither you, nor your political leaders, understand how strong you really are. I advise you to not give up, to continue with your work, force elected officials to be accountable, and contribute to establishing a better future for you, your family and the community’’, said Ambassador Moon.