The delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a statement, following repeated statements by the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, about “separation” from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Srebrenica genocide is a historical fact established in court proceedings before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2004 and the International Court of Justice in 2007,” the EU delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina reminds.
It is added that reconciliation can be built solely on truth, peace and justice, as well as empathy and respect for all civilian victims.
“The European Union itself was founded on these principles after the Second World War. We call on the leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to fully focus their efforts on creating an environment conducive to reconciliation and the reforms necessary to achieve progress on the European path. Citizens throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina want a brighter future and are interested in their leaders finding constructive ways to deal with the legacy of the past,” it said.
The EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina states that there is no legal, factual or rational basis for calls for the “peaceful disunion of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
“This leads nowhere and creates unacceptable fears among citizens. The European Union, among other things, and through EUFOR, is unequivocally committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and international subjectivity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a safe and secure environment,” the statement reads.
“The European Council’s green light for the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina followed the reforms that are the result of the contributions of all actors of the coalition at the state level. The reforms are a joint success of the coalition parties and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is of the utmost importance that domestic leaders follow the only realistic path: work on further reforms and progress on the European path, which is the surest guarantee of future stability and prosperity for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, concluded the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
