Kings and Presidents: Saudi-American Diplomacy and the Rescue of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a new book by the author Mirnes Kovac in which he analyzes the complex diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia, the United States (U.S.) and BiH during the war in the 1990s.
This work in its first version was a doctoral dissertation defended at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, and with later revisions the author offered a clearer and more comprehensible insight into the foreign policy and geopolitical maneuvers that shaped the fate of BiH during its struggle for independence.
The author started working on this project in 2016, and says that the inspiration for the research came from conversations with key actors of the process in the 90s, such as Ejup Ganic, Haris Silajdzic, and Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey. In addition, he says that the invitation of FPN Dean Sead Turcal in 2018 to write an article about the relations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with BiH was a turning point for this research.
Saudi pressure to save Bosnia
The book analyzes in detail the period when BiH gained independence and international recognition. Kovac emphasizes the key role of Saudi Arabia, especially King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, in mobilizing international support for BiH. Saudi pressure on the Clinton administration through diplomatic channels and personal emissaries was crucial for the involvement of the U.S. in stopping the war and the destruction of BiH.
“Saudi Arabia, i.e. its then sovereign King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, was the only country in the beginning that pressured the U.S. to get involved and stop the war and the destruction of BiH,” said Mirnes Kovac, adding that the direct Saudi diplomatic pressure on the Clinton administration took place through King Fahd’s letters to President Clinton, and the sending of personal emissaries.
One of the significant examples cited by the author is the admission of BiH to the United Nations (UN), where the Saudi diplomat Samir Shihabi, then chairman of the UN General Assembly, played a key role.
“Many people still do not know that the admission of BiH, Slovenia and Croatia to the UN was read in pure Arabic, and it was proclaimed by the Saudi diplomat Samir Shihabi,” adds Kovac.
Vision 2030 and BiH
The book also reflects on the current political environment of the country, emphasizing the need to restore diplomatic relations and adapt to new global circumstances. The author emphasizes that the success of any policy requires the alignment of key factors, but that political will is the most important.
According to Kovac, Saudi Arabia with its vision of 2030 offers a model for BiH to define its goals, such as membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO by 2030.
“For almost a decade, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been promoting its vision 2030, to become a country of economic diversification, global engagement and improved quality of life. At the same time, BiH also has the possibility to designate 2030 as its turning point, as the key target year to become a member of the EU and NATO alliances. Setting such high goals is not a guarantee that they will be achieved, but in order for things to move in a positive direction, it is necessary to break pessimism and social depression, and to take strategic steps that will open up the potential for this country to become a society of excellence and a desirable destination for investments.” added Mirnes Kovac, author of the book.
Kings and Presidents: Saudi-American Diplomacy and the Rescue of BiH, published by the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo and “Dobra knjiga” publishing house.
The book received positive reviews from significant representatives of the Bosnian academic community, researchers in the field of international relations and political science, N1 writes.
