“Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) does not have a specific official state strategy towards its diaspora. As early as 2017, at the session of the Council of Ministers in April, a policy on cooperation with the diaspora of BiH was adopted, which was supposed to become a strategy, ie a state policy to determine which institution should work with the diaspora at what level, “explained Hasan Sehovic, President of the World Alliance of Diaspora.
He added that now the relationship with the diaspora has been reduced to the enthusiasm of people who work in diplomatic and consular missions.
Sehovic reminded that in 2018, a policy on cooperation with the diaspora was adopted. Since then, the strategy has not been on the agenda of the Council of Ministers of BiH, for which, he points out, those who pass laws are responsible – the parliaments and the Council of Ministers of BiH.
“If this strategy cannot be harmonized for five years, then it all comes down to the fact that BiH, the government, and the Council of Ministers do not care about the diaspora,” Sehovic concluded.
When it comes to the strategy of relations with BiH diaspora, he explains, it should precisely define the work of all diplomatic and consular missions in the world: from economic, cultural, social, and all other subjects of work with the diaspora, but also within BiH.
In addition, he pointed out, a law on foreign affairs should be passed, which BiH still does not have, and then a ministry for the diaspora should be formed in the future. He emphasized that the diaspora would thus have its own ministry – a door to knock on. Now it is only the Department for Emigration at the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, where there is enthusiasm, they are trying, working with the diaspora, but that is not enough to cover all sectors and complete demands of the diaspora.
“The diaspora is angry and disappointed, but we love our homeland and we will not turn our backs on it, no matter how angry we are. We are present and we do not give up. For example, on July 2nd, we have a congress of the diaspora. We send short, clear, and concrete messages from each of the congresses we hold every other year. Such messages were also sent from the last congress, but, obviously, no one took them seriously and applied them in practice. The government and the most responsible people for changes do not listen to the diaspora, ” concluded Sehovic, Federalna writes.
E.Dz.
