Dr. Bećirović on the visit of Lords to Sarajevo: BiH should leverage the global influence of Great Britain

Members of the House of Lords of the Parliament of Great Britain are arriving for an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.

It has been confirmed by the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to the Patria agency that the meeting of the Lords with members of the collegium of both houses of the BiH Parliament begins at 9:30 AM.

English Lords consulted in mid-month with General Michael Rose, former commander of UNPROFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on how Great Britain can influence stability in BiH, who the main cause of problems in the country is, what it would mean for the BiH entity of RS to join Serbia, and whether conflicts in the country will escalate again.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zijad Bećirović, Director of the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) Ljubljana, told the Patria agency that Great Britain is one of the most important countries in the world, and if it wishes, it can greatly help Bosnia and Herzegovina because its influence is global. In his opinion, Bosnia and Herzegovina should build good relations with this country for these reasons, and leverage the visit of English Lords to Sarajevo on Friday in this direction.

“The discussion held about Bosnia and Herzegovina in the House of Lords is significant for BiH, as conclusions will be formulated by the end of the year, which will influence British policy towards BiH and the region. Therefore, it is important for Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen and intensify cooperation with Great Britain in foreign policy as well as in other areas. It would be important to see, for example, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Denis Zvizdić, or members of the BiH Presidency in London soon. Leaving the EU will further strengthen Great Britain's influence in the world and in the Western Balkans,” Bećirović believes. 

He reminds that Great Britain is definitely leaving the EU. This means it will redefine its foreign policy, which until now has largely relied on the common EU policy. Therefore, he says, it is not at all coincidental that a discussion about British foreign policy, including about Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, was initiated in the upper house of the British parliament, the House of Lords. Great Britain, Bećirović points out, will particularly strengthen its influence within the Commonwealth of Nations. 

“The arrival of British Lords is a clear sign of the interest of British policy in the situation in BiH, especially in the context that Great Britain and the USA are the strongest allies on the international stage, and the visit is an opportunity for the Lords and Baronesses to get acquainted firsthand with the events and upheavals in Bosnia and Herzegovina.“

When asked if England has a strategic interest in preserving a unified BiH and supporting its EU and NATO path after Brexit, Bećirović believes that BiH can profit from Great Britain in any case.

“The EU has not really committed enough to Bosnia and Herzegovina, although it could have, and it also has a historical sin, because it abandoned BiH in the period 1992-1995. Now, instead of prioritizing or accelerating BiH's accession to its membership, the EU constantly insists on setting new conditions for membership. We must not forget the fact of how Bulgaria and Romania, as well as neighboring Croatia, were admitted to the EU. The EU should redefine its relationship with BiH. Although Great Britain is leaving the EU, its influence remains present within the EU, and its alliance with the USA will be particularly strengthened. It is precisely in this alliance that I see an opportunity to help BiH on its path to NATO and the EU,” concludes Bećirović, writes NAP.