If Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia overtake the Western Balkans on their way to the European Union (EU), it would send a dangerous message that countries currently at war are rewarded with shortcuts at the expense of others. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Elmedin Konakovic, who often stays in Slovenia, is grateful for the Slovenian support for BiH in getting closer to the EU. In anticipation of the invitation to start accession negotiations, he wants to open the European market for companies from BiH, which could convince more people to stay in their homeland, said BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konakovic at the beginning of the interview.
Moreover, the issues of national security in BiH have recently come up even more often than usual. When it comes to the Western Balkans, it is almost impossible to talk about security separately.
In general, we are witnessing a wave of security uncertainty around the world, especially in the EU, which has raised the level of preparedness for terrorist threats due to the events in Gaza and Israel. BiH is currently no less safe than the rest of the world. Some unpleasant events happened in the capitals of Europe and of course, we all strongly condemn it and hope that the wave of violence will not spread.
Minister Konakovic, responding to the issue of security in BiH as well as in the Western Balkans, stated that there are security challenges in BiH arising from the events of the 1990s, due to the fact that BiHa has always been attractive to its eastern and western neighbors, and due to the fact that maps from the distant past were often drawn in this region.
He also emphasized that BiH has enough problems even without world processes because part of the political scene is constantly developing the story of secession, which could not take place without conflict.
“There is certainly no possibility of a peaceful separation. I think politicians talk about it when they want to hide what they are not doing, but what they should, what they do now know how to do. If they do not know how to offer new projects, new values, or something new for the future, it is easiest to hide behind the curtain of national issues, we have witnessed this for a long time. Indeed, most of it comes from Republika Srpska (RS), unfortunately, other politicians from all sides often hide behind false nationalism and patriotism. I myself have witnessed that these people are completely different when the cameras are off, they abuse that evil to continue deceiving the members of their people who vote for them and to stay in power,” Konakovic said.
He also pointed out that the security challenge also includes the migrant crisis, and migrant waves, which are sometimes larger and sometimes smaller.
“At the moment, it seems to me that everything is under control, that, given the situation, we are still managing things quite well. It is hard to believe that we have been sleeping with one eye open for decades because danger was always in the air, always somewhere, close to us,” stated Minister Konakovic, but also reminded that the EU must be aware that migrants come to BiH via the EU.
“Greece was and probably is one of the biggest hotspots of migrants and they come to us from there. I agree that we are not a strong enough country, neither economically nor in any other sense, to be able to respond adequately to these challenges, especially when there are so many of them. Also, due to the inaction of the previous governments, the border service is in disarray, we lack hundreds of people, and we are currently working on strengthening these services. Although we are trying to strengthen the border service with more budget funds, without the EU and friends from the West we cannot manage the migrant crisis, which we did not create,” the BiH minister emphasized.
Responding to an inquiry regarding the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Sarajevo next Wednesday and expectations of an invitation to start negotiations on EU membership, Minister Konakovic said that important issues are on the table during that visit.
“The first and, in my opinion, the most important support for BiH in the area of funds and access to European funds. The most important support would be the approach to the European market, which would facilitate the conditions for the business of our economy, import, and export. That would be a real indication of the will if the EU really wants us,” Konakovic pointed out.
In his opinion, the process of expansion into the Balkans is more important for the EU than for BiH, since Europe must clearly show that it wants BiH in its society in a political sense and start negotiations.
“Of course, the start of negotiations does not mean that we are in any way closer to the EU in a formal sense, and that is the truth,” he pointed out and emphasized that he is aware that there are opponents of the decision to start enlargement negotiations with BiH.
“I would like to tell them that by not supporting the start of negotiations, they would be directly helping Moscow and Vladimir Putin, who is doing everything to prevent such a decision in the EU. This would show people that Europe is not that interested in BiH in a political sense. The expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans would be a slap in the face to Moscow at a time when Euroscepticism is growing, especially in the RS, but recently it has also been growing among Bosniaks,” Konakovic explained, expressing his belief that Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova will not have an advantage in joining the EU compared to the Western Balkans.
“If that were to happen, it would be an injustice and a dangerous message. If you are attacked, if you go to war, you advance faster in the EU. I don’t think anyone in Europe thinks only about the progress of these countries at the expense of the Balkans. This opinion in no way diminishes our support for Ukraine and its struggle, the Ukrainian struggle is not only a struggle for Ukrainians but also a struggle for all of us,” Konakovic concluded.
Photo: Fena
