Although the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is worrying, it is a political issue, not a security crisis, British envoy to the Western Balkans Stuart Peach stated, adding that Russia’s war in Ukraine is a “challenge” that must not spill over into the Balkans.
Condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine
A former senior commander of the British Air Force and former chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Peach, was appointed British envoy to the Western Balkans in December 2021.
”We all clearly see the tragic consequences for the Ukrainian people and we need to support them in every possible way. That includes all humanitarian aid provided by Croatia and many other European allies and friends,” he said.
Russia’s invasion of the neighboring country has entered its fourth week, more than three million people have fled, Russia is increasingly isolated due to Western sanctions, and there are no results from the peace talks so far.
An ongoing process
Officials from the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.), and the OSCE have announced the resumption of talks with BiH politicians aimed at agreeing on changes to the constitution and election law, paving the way for continued European integration.
On one side there are Bosniak representatives who say elections can be held under the current election law, and on the other side there are Croat and Serb representatives who say there are no conditions for normal elections without the necessary changes to the election law.
”It is an ongoing process. And we hope for successful conclusions of those negotiations,” explained Peach.
For now, BiH is a potential candidate for membership, while neighboring Serbia has been in accession talks with the EU for eight years, but in additions to the reforms needed to bring the country closer to the Union, Belgrade’s relations with Pristina will be key.
The best hope for people
Serbia is one of the few countries that has not imposed sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, but Peach welcomes the fact that the Serbian government has joined Russia’s condemnation of the United Nations (UN). On whether it is time for Serbia to decide in which direction to go – closer to the West or Russia, the British envoy says that it is for Belgrade “to choose a position”.
However, he pointed out that the United Kingdom (UK) “encourages all governments in the region on the Euro-Atlantic path and the path to the EU because he thinks it provides the best hope for the people in the region for a better future, free from war.”
”We respect if the countries in the region do not want to join NATO, but those who want to should get that opportunity,” said Peach, adding that the same applies to joining the EU.
Fresh and deep memories
Peach pointed out that his goal is to preserve stability in the Western Balkans.
”We want to contribute to a safe, peaceful, and stable region. With the war raging not so far from where we are sitting today, we must really understand what is happening in that war and we must make sure that the war does not spread to this region,” said Peach.
He added that the people of BiH and many peoples in the region “have fresh and deep memories of what war and conflict mean and that we must not return to it.”
And that is why one of his priorities is to encourage the resolution of issues such as war crimes and missing persons.
E.Dz.
Source: Avaz
