Čović: Dodik is not solely to blame for the crisis in BiH

(Patria) - HDZ BiH President Dragan Čović believes that the security situation in BiH is stable despite the political crisis.

- I believe that the international EU and NATO forces, which have an obligation to BiH, are a sufficient guarantee that serious conflicts cannot occur in BiH - Čović stated in an interview for Večernji list.

However, as he stated, the events in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS), where new laws are being rapidly adopted that devalue previous ones, and many powers of BiH institutions are being attempted to be derogated and lowered to the entity level, have led to doubts that BiH institutions cannot respond to all the trials and challenges that lie ahead and which can burden relations in BiH.

When asked who is responsible for the latest crisis, Čović asserted that Milorad Dodik is not solely to blame.

- Objectively, if it weren't for the BiH Court's verdict against the President of RS, we probably wouldn't be talking so dynamically about these problems today.

In parallel with that, they have only accelerated the attempt by a good portion of Bosniak politicians to build a unitary civic state. On the other hand, as an echo, we have the response of a large part of the representatives of the Serb people to go in the direction of separatism - Čović assesses.

Nevertheless, according to him, although BiH institutions, especially judicial ones, are not perfect, he says that the existing system must be respected until a "more correctly organized system" is in place.

Čović is of the opinion that a way out of the crisis must be sought through dialogue.

- We must rely on ourselves to finish what we should have finished long ago, which is for BiH institutions to take full responsibility for everything that is happening in the country today, i.e., to act without relying on the interventionism of the international community.

However we act, we simply must talk with all representatives of relevant political parties in BiH and representatives of both constituent peoples, and regardless of what representatives of certain policies from Sarajevo say, I don't think we will get far that way.

We will again find ourselves in a situation where we talk after a crisis that can last even longer. We propose seeking solutions through dialogue, and today, not for someone to help us with that in a year or two - Čović added.

Speaking about the future of BiH, he emphasized that accession to the EU must be preserved as a strategic determinant in BiH's foreign policy.

- Even today, in this crisis, you hear that the EU or our European obligations should be set aside until the internal problem is resolved. I am convinced that we must solve the issue of the EU and our overall environment in parallel.

We simply must catch up with all the countries on their European path and open the negotiation process as soon as possible. That is why I call on partners, primarily representatives of the European People's Party as participants in the largest family within the EU, to grant BiH negotiating status.

We naturally must adopt the remaining two laws and appoint a chief negotiator, thereby formally fulfilling the existing conditions, aware that we are the only ones in BiH who think about the European future and pro-European steps.

We must be credible. I think that this part of Southeast Europe, which is now called the Western Balkans, will become part of the EU as a whole in the future. That would be in the interest of the EU, but also of ourselves, i.e., our region - Čović concluded.