The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly condemns the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, which commented on the work of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations and the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko Lagumdžija, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
“Such statements represent open and impermissible interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, which is contrary to the fundamental principles of international law and good neighborly relations. We particularly reject legally unfounded and politically motivated expressions such as “collective institutions of BiH” and “joint institutions of BiH”. The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly defines state institutions as institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and no other term has constitutional legitimacy. The use of such expressions is a conscious attempt to diminish and derogate from state institutions in a legal and political sense. We also remind you that Ms. Željka Cvijanović, whose statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia refers to, is not the only member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Presidency currently consists of three equal members – Chairman Željko Komšić, member Denis Bećirović and member Željka Cvijanović. Any disregard for this fact is a direct denial of the constitutional structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We would like to remind you that in cases where the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot make decisions by consensus on foreign policy issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina assumes responsibility in accordance with the Constitution and its authorities,” the statement reads.
According to publicly available information, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović and former President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik issued instructions to ambassadors, consuls general and diplomats coming from the Republika Srpska, including those in multilateral missions, to lobby exclusively in the interest of the political positions they represent, ignoring the constitutionally defined competencies and official positions of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such conduct is a gross violation of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the basic rules of international diplomacy, and the question arises as to why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia did not react to these activities, the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina also stated.
“We understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia has not yet accepted the historic victory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its Permanent Mission to the UN and Ambassador Lagumdžija, achieved on May 23, 2024, in the United Nations General Assembly by adopting Resolution A/RES/78/282 – International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide in 1995. This resolution represents the result of years of efforts to internationally affirm truth, justice and the memory of the victims of genocide. However, even an emotional reaction to this success cannot be an excuse for violating diplomatic norms and interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign state,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH emphasizes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to the principles of good neighborliness and mutual respect. At the same time, it expects the Republic of Serbia to finally harmonize its public appearances and diplomatic activities with international law, the fundamental principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states.
Only such an approach can be the basis for relations that contribute to peace, stability and cooperation in the entire region, emphasizes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH.
