While Serbs are celebrating, the state is slipping through Bosniaks' fingers

By Dr. Sci. Enver Išerić

The all-Serbian assembly is being held in Belgrade tomorrow. That's what it's called, all-Serbian. However, it is not an all-Serbian assembly. It is an assembly of Serbs from Serbia and Serbs from Republika Srpska. As reported by B92, the all-Serbian assembly carries the main message that Serbs, wherever they live, are one people, that they strive for the same goals, have a common history, and promote peace and good relations with everyone in the region.

Other media (Sputnik Serbia) inform the public; "The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ana Brnabić, will welcome the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Višković, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of RS, Nenad Stevandić, at the Sremska Rača border crossing today."

The Minister for Labour and Veterans' Affairs of Serbia, Nemanja Starović, stated that "the Governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska will adopt a Declaration on the Protection of National and Political Rights and the Common Future of the Serbian People at a joint session on Saturday within the framework of the All-Serbian Assembly. Within the framework of the All-Serbian Assembly, the Government of Serbia adopted a series of protocols and memorandums on cooperation between Serbia and Republika Srpska, from culture and education, agriculture, trade, tourism, to care for families and the diaspora."

It is not difficult to conclude that this is not about celebrating to protect and nurture the culture of the Serbian people. This is about the quiet integration of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of Republika Srpska into the political and legal framework of the Republic of Serbia. This is about the final steps in dismantling the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and creating Greater Serbia. And it was for this goal that the aggression against our country was launched. That is why genocide was committed against Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serbian politics and Serbian politicians cannot come to terms with the fact that they did not defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it has survived as a state, a member of the United Nations. Now, attacks are being carried out by other means. Political, "cultural", agricultural, trade, tourism... attacks are being carried out by blocking all state institutions by officeholders and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Serbian people, primarily from SNSD.

Everyone knows this and everyone sees it. The High Representative, the European Union, and the USA all see it. They all see it and condemn it. But no one is taking the necessary steps and actions to prevent it.

Therefore, in the coming period, it will be necessary for "patriots" in state institutions to put all agreements on special and parallel relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska on their work desks, including those that will be signed at the all-Serbian assembly, and then file a request with the Constitutional Court of BiH to assess their compliance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Special relations were provided as a possibility for easier implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace signed in Dayton, and they have long since turned into a mechanism through which Greater Serbian policy attempts to secede a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and turn it into a Serbian world.

The right to special and parallel ties was given by the Dayton Agreement, but this right is limited by Annex 4 of the aforementioned agreement. Therefore, it is not nearly provided in the way that policies in Belgrade and Banja Luka have been abusing it for so long.

According to the document that gave the right to their establishment, these ties must not threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state. However, the practice has long been that they do exactly that and are abused in an attempt to realize unsuccessful war plans.

And therefore, the international community, i.e., the creators of Dayton and its consequences, in cooperation with domestic institutions and policies, should first re-examine the abuse of special and parallel ties, and in accordance with regulations, limit or abolish them again. Because, abolition would certainly be a step towards stabilizing the situation in the Balkans.

If it is not more important now to "google" exotic vacation destinations that are not even deserved, paid for with money that has not been earned. And so, while Serbs are organizing an all-Serbian assembly, the state is slipping through Bosniaks' fingers. It's like finding a little water in the desert after a long journey and "dying of thirst", catching it in your palms, and just as you are about to drink, all the water slips through your fingers and palms.

Bosniaks do not know how to agree on a single candidate for the mayor of the Municipality of Srebrenica. If they don't know that, then they don't know and cannot do anything else. They cannot do anything more important or complex. And the issue of one (joint) candidate for the mayor of Srebrenica is so simple, and at the same time so important for Bosniaks. Our politicians, unfortunately, do not see this and do not think so.

It was to be expected that we Bosniaks would come to this situation. And we have traveled a long way. Since 1996. And we have arrived where we are now. Why was this situation of ours to be expected. Because we have gradually, but surely, handed over the governance of the country to those who did not defend it when it was attacked.

And it is not only the politicians we elected or who represent us who are to blame for this situation. We are also to blame – the citizens. We are to blame because we calmly observe everything that is happening to our country. Just like our representatives in power. Do we even know that we must not entrust our country to individuals, whoever they may be. The state and its institutions must be protected by the representatives of the citizens in those institutions. When they fail, then the citizens who elected them and to whom they gave their trust to represent them come into play.

Bosniaks will have to find mechanisms for effective control of elected officials very soon. And they will have to stop all hostilities that are currently taking place. They will have to dare to have coffee or lunch with each other, regardless of which political party they are from, without fear of being declared an enemy and a traitor. And they will have to start keeping the interests of the state at the top of all priorities, wrapped in silk. If not, we will be humiliated and thrown into the mud from which we will not be able to get out. And I emphasize once again: it is not only a few Bosniaks who represent us who are responsible for this situation. We are all responsible – the citizens, because we allowed them to behave irresponsibly towards the state.