Čović: In the letter to The Hague, I will not say whether I am for or against the revision of the verdict against Serbia

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Croatian people Dragan Čović spoke at a gathering with journalists today in Sarajevo about the letter that the International Court of Justice in The Hague sent to the three members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čović said he does not know the content of the letter, but he feels that the Court in The Hague is asking the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to declare themselves on the revision of the verdict of Bosnia and Herzegovina against Serbia for genocide.

The request for revision of the 2007 verdict in which Serbia was found guilty before the International Court in The Hague for violating the Genocide Convention but not for genocide itself was submitted last week by the agent of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sakib Softić, after which a political crisis ensued in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Representatives of the Bosnian Serbs are demanding that the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegović withdraw the request for revision of the verdict.

- There is no greater slap we have received. This manner of correspondence speaks to the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Čović.

- I will see how I will respond to the Court in The Hague. We made a mistake once and now we see the consequences - part of the government says it is in a technical mandate. I am of the opinion that we must speak with one voice on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We must schedule an urgent session and find a solution and a unified stance on this issue. Whether it is a revision or not, a consensus must be found, even if we sit for five hours. As for the revision of the verdict against Serbia itself, it is both a political and legal issue. Someone wanted to turn this issue into a purely legal one, but it is not so. This issue is also political - added Čović.

- In the response to the letter, I will not clearly say that I am for the revision or that I am not, because we must protect the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an institution. We cannot talk separately with anyone, and thus not with the International Court either - revealed Čović.

He said that an individual cannot speak on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because "that is where we come to a new danger of not getting the Law on Foreign Affairs, which we certainly do not have." Čović reminded that the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Federica Mogherini is coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina must give her assurance that they are committed to reaching candidate status in the EU. He said he will insist that political games be set aside, and that the authorities focus on implementing the agenda.