BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković held a media conference today where he analyzed the state’s position in the midst of global conflicts, as well as internal blockades.
Konaković pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina, taught by its own experience, today has every right to tell the truth to everyone’s face.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina can tell Hamas that it must not take civilians hostage, it can tell Netanyahu’s government that this is a massacre that it is doing in Gaza. It can tell whoever killed 160 girls in Iran that it is a crime, but also tell Iran that it must not shell its neighbors because of it,” the minister said, stressing that the country firmly holds its moral compass.
Review of Picula’s statement
In his address, he mentioned the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. “I had one of the best meetings with the French Foreign Minister yesterday. France insists that we adopt these two EU laws, that we choose a chief negotiator, that we send these documents to Brussels. These are two technical laws. And we have guarantees that BiH will get a date for negotiations. That is crucial. That window will not be open for long. There could be drastic consequences,” the minister said, adding that the French Development Agency is starting to operate in BiH with the aim of attracting investment from this European country.
He particularly referred to the statement by Tonino Picula, who suggested that BiH could become a problem for the EU if it does not reach an internal agreement, calling it “a bit of a harsh message from a friend”.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a test for the European Union. It is a geographical area where Russia manages to block the interests of our citizens. The EU must show or admit to itself that it is powerless to deal with Russia in the heart of Europe and to help pro-European forces. If it is going to let Dodik and his ilk block the EU integration process, on Moscow’s orders, the EU should admit to itself that Putin is superior and that they do not have the tools to help us deal with the Russians. I remind you that we asked for similar assistance from EUFOR when the BiH institutions were supposed to arrest Dodik, then the EU remained silent, which weakens their position in relations with Russia and America and other major players,” Konaković argued.
“We must not fall off the economic train”
The minister warned that domestic populism does not solve economic problems and that the country must remain on the “economic train” of the European Union, where it exports 93% of its products.
“We are obliged to respect the SAA, it is much easier to be a populist on the story of 200 murdered girls in Iran, as some do. The paradox is that today you have announced a blockade of truck carriers, because they do not have enough space in the EU, I understand them. But then there is no logic in disagreeing with the EU on some issues, except for these moral ones. We must not fall off that economic train, because all the young people would leave BiH. Populism does not solve these problems,” said Konaković.
A strong message about coexistence
Konaković also announced an important trip to Washington to the Haggadah exhibition, emphasizing that this event sends a strong message about coexistence.
“We have a Haggadah exhibition that will deny all of Dodik’s narratives. We separate the activities of the Netanyahu government from the relationship between Bosniaks and Jews. We have no problem with Jews, we have a problem with the actions of individuals,” the minister concluded, calling on political actors to urgently adopt the two remaining European laws so that BiH will receive a date for negotiations.
