BiH will have a chance for "Dayton 2" after the elections!

Bosnia and Herzegovina will have a new chance for thorough reform, that is for sure, but only after the elections, said in an exclusive interview for the BiH news agency Patria (NAP), Saša Toperić, a world-renowned pianist, but also a long-time politician, diplomat, and advocate for Bosnia and Herzegovina's interests in the United States of America.

- Well, you are right, politicians in the Balkans generally like music of a different genre. But, hey, the Balkans also have an Ivo Josipović, the Croatian president and classical music composer, so in that context, he raises our regional average – he says in an interview for the BiH news agency Patria.

By position, Toperić is a senior research associate at the Center for Transatlantic Relations SAIS in Washington and director of the "Mediterranean Basin" project at this institution. Recently, he has been intensively engaged in US cooperation projects with North African countries, following the revolutions in the "Arab Spring". However, Toperić says he has never stopped working for BiH.

His impressive biography shows that this Sarajevo native still plays an important role and has influence in international circles. He is also engaged as an envoy of the Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH, Bakir Izetbegović. In an interview for NAP, Toperić also expresses a certain bitterness about the situation in our country, but he is also enigmatically optimistic.

NAP: You have been associated with some BiH politicians like Haris Silajdžić or Sulejman Tihić, and now you are Izetbegović's envoy. Who do you actually work for?

TOPERIĆ: I am not a member of any party and I work with all political entities that have concrete and positive programs for the development of BiH throughout its territory. I know that this concept is only partially acceptable to our political elites who, unfortunately, have the need to "appropriate" and control.

Through my work, I want to modestly contribute to the development of national consciousness among Bosnians and Herzegovinians and show that in every political party across BiH there are good and quality people, but also, unfortunately, very bad and corrupt ones. I believe that the younger generations to come will overcome this policy of mutual undermining and enter politics of unity and development. There is room for everyone in our rich country; with teamwork, we can change this reality.

NAP: You have been in politics for years, and your engagement has largely remained connected to Bosnia and Herzegovina. From your perspective, as a professional who is often a conversation partner for decision-makers, how does the situation in BiH look?

TOPERIĆ: How would you assess the situation in a country where coalitions and political alliances change almost every day, where everyone is good with everyone for 10 days, and then they become the biggest enemies, and so it goes in circles.

A country where the egos of certain leaders and the struggle for (over)power are stronger than the goal of even minimally normal functioning of the country. This then reflects on all levels of administration, and every inaction and crisis, whether at the municipal, cantonal, entity, or state level, directly affects the lives of citizens.

Political concessions are traded for the dismissal of ministers or parties that are currently "not suitable" for private or party, and mostly financial interests. The economy suffers, citizens suffer. I hope this practice will stop after the next elections. Especially after the justified citizens' revolt. We are our own worst enemies.

NAP: What are the prospects and outlook for a country that next year marks 20 years of Dayton, the "mad shirt", but also the agreement that guaranteed its survival?

TOPERIĆ: It is clear to everyone that Dayton is not a functional solution. In many countries around the world, including the US, the constitution has been amended and adapted to the needs of modern society. Even in our country, some laws that go beyond the Dayton framework have already been adopted. There have been and will be various initiatives to modify the country's legal framework, but I do not doubt the survival of BiH.

NAP: You are in constant contact with the Obama administration. What is Washington's interest in BiH and what are the US actually prepared to do in BiH?

TOPERIĆ: The interest of the US is constant. The aid and support of the US is enormous. It is time for some of our politicians to stop looking for every opportunity to go to Washington for photos and to thank the US for its support in BiH's integration processes into the EU and NATO, and to stop promising the moon, just to say here that "they have American support" for their personal interests.

It would be better if they rolled up their sleeves and implemented reforms in parliaments, in the interest of the citizens of this country. Well, the US Embassy, the State Department, and other relevant institutions constantly appeal for the implementation of reforms. The only thing left is to bring in Americans, give them BiH citizenship, and put them in parliament to work and adopt the necessary reforms instead of us.

NAP: There is a lot of talk about new initiatives from the international community. Are there really any chances for a Dayton 2?

TOPERIĆ: We already had the "April Package" on the table, we had the "Butmir process", we had the proposal for the reform of the Federation of BiH with the aim of creating a more efficient larger entity in BiH. It is not right to say that there were no chances. And there will be more, but we will talk about that another time, and certainly after the elections.

NAP: Where do you see the key to resolving blockades in BiH and what is expected from the October elections in international circles?

TOPERIĆ: I think the key is to revise the judicial reform, because it is obvious that crime goes largely unpunished, and this deters foreign investors from BiH.

It would be good to have professional governments, with experts, who can restore investor confidence with their knowledge and work and lead the country forward, and it is up to the leaders of the parties that win the elections to leave politicking and "debts" to incompetent and corrupt cadres in the past, and appoint proven capable and quality people and bring in young, new cadres.

Toperić with the first president of free Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi, in Tripoli

NAP: How do you assess the diplomatic work of BiH, our embassies and diplomats, especially in the US?

TOPERIĆ: I do not work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH and I do not presume to give assessments. I can say, from my experiences as an envoy of the Presidency of BiH in the US and as a consultant under a service contract at our Mission to the United Nations during the period when we lobbied for our country to join the Security Council, that we have quality and dedicated diplomats, as well as those who cannot be called that for any reason.

Instead of just criticizing, I suggest that our official institutions start publicly praising those diplomats who deserve it with their work. When "May God burn his house down, mine can burn too" ceases to be our motto in society, and when we can rejoice in the success of others, then we will have a more satisfied and progressive society.

NAP: Does BiH have economic diplomacy at all, and why are foreign investors not coming to us?

TOPERIĆ: Allow me to ask you, would you come to invest in a country where governments change so often, where corruption thrives, where the judicial system is not effective, so you lack basic security and protection for your money?