The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member states met yesterday in Brussels for a regular meeting ahead of a summit of leaders to be held later this month. The meeting was also attended by the foreign ministers of the Western Balkan countries.
Bisera Turkovic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH called on the foreign ministers of the EU member states to approve the accelerated candidate status of our country and to postpone the fulfillment of 14 preconditions for a period of one year after the elections, in order to preserve peace and stability.
“Candidate status for BiH is the last chance that could redirect forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and protect not only us but also the Western Balkans region and Europe from the effects of the conflict spreading,” explained Minister Turkovic.
During yesterday‘s session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the foreign ministers of the Western Balkan countries exchanged views with their counterparts from the EU.
She said the situation in BiH is deeply worrying.
“Our institutions have been paralyzed, reform processes have been stopped and concrete secessionist moves have been made. Politicians playing according to Russian notes have adopted laws, unilaterally, at the entity level, which are in direct conflict with the BiH Constitution, with the aim of destabilizing the country. The implementation of these laws has not stopped, despite numerous warnings, as well as the actions of the High Representative. Don’t be fooled by the optics. The BiH presidency has met on several occasions, although it seems to be functioning, there is no progress in the discussion on essential issues, “ the minister pointed out.
She pointed out that the Council of Ministers of BiH held several extraordinary sessions, at which it considered a small number of materials, and that more than 700 materials are still awaiting consideration and adoption.
“Among them, there are reforms that are crucial for the well-being of our citizens. We have been repeatedly reminded of the obligation to meet 14 key priorities for candidate status. But, to make progress in this, BiH needs institutions working at full capacity,” she stated.
Minister Turkovic emphasized that in such circumstances, the narrative is additionally pressured on the need to protect the rights of three ethnic groups in BiH.
“The question that naturally arises is what will happen toordinary citizens of BiH? What about the right of those who do not want to identify with any national group, who want to be simply citizens of BiH without an ethnic prefix, who were born and lived in the country, but can neither vote nor be elected? What about equal rights? What about European standards? Who is pushing us back into historical divisions? People are scared and desperate for a signal of which direction to go. We need your help. The EU can only strengthen by helping people to find the right way forward. If not, it will be a blow to the EU as well, “ our country’s foreign minister said during a meeting.
