Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Denis Becirovic, reacted on Wednesday to the “latest unfounded statements” made by the Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency, Zeljka Cvijanovic, in Brussels.
Becirovic reminded that, according to the Constitution of BiH, the Presidency of BiH is responsible for determining and conducting the foreign policy of BiH. He emphasized that members of the Presidency are obligated to act in accordance with adopted state laws, strategies, and other documents, which establish BiH‘s strategic foreign policy goals as membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO.
“The Presidency of BiH did not make a decision regarding Chairwoman Zeljka Cvijanovic‘s visit to Brussels or her representation of BiH during meetings with EU officials. Therefore, her views do not represent the official state position of BiH. Mrs. Zeljka Cvijanovic‘s statements reflect solely her personal opinions, which do not bind either the state of BiH or the EU. Any expression of views that contradict BiH‘s adopted strategic foreign policy goals constitutes an abuse of the position of Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency. It is completely unacceptable for Mrs. Zeljka Cvijanovic, in her capacity as Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency, to express the views of one administrative-territorial unit within BiHinstead of representing the official positions of the state,” Becirovic stated.
He further reiterated that the only subject of international law is the independent, sovereign, and indivisible state of BiH, and added that the entities within BiH do not have the authority to independently create or implement foreign policy, as this is exclusively under the jurisdiction of state institutions.
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Zeljka Cvijanovic, along with certain other officials from the BiH entity of Republika Srpska (RS), has been engaging for some time in alarming anti-Dayton and pro-Russian activities that threaten peace, stability, and security in BiH. The messages from Mrs. Zeljka Cvijanovic, which aim to undermine the clearly defined authority of the High Representative of the international community in BiH and the Constitutional Court of BiH, are her personal opinions that lack the support of state institutions of BiH and do not reflect the commitment of the majority of its citizens,” Becirovic said.
In his response, which was addressed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, Becirovic also reminded that RS leaders had awarded Russian President Vladimir Putin the highest order of the entity, noting that this was “done in the midst of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which speaks volumes about the danger of such policies, not only for BiH but beyond.”
It is worth recalling that Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency, Zeljka Cvijanovic, stated in Brussels that domestic authorities on BiH’s path to the EU must “base solutions on internal agreement, without any interventionism, external interference, or imposition.”
She emphasized that the imposition of laws is unacceptable and unimaginable within the framework of democracy and, generally speaking, the EU.
Cvijanovic also conveyed to European officials “the positions of RS.”
On this occasion, she criticized the High Representatives in BiH, including the current one, Christian Schmidt, concluding that “it is absurd to have an individual who can act in a manner entirely contrary to European principles and practices, trampling on democracy, while you claim to be on a European path.”, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
