State visit for the interests of one nation

By A. Aljović

“I spoke about our European path, the security situation, more efficient functioning, and we also discussed economic cooperation,” said the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Čović, after his visit to Australia.

After visiting New Zealand, Čović traveled to Australia. There he met with associations of expatriates originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also took photos with religious officials of Bosniaks and Croats. There is talk of an extremely strong Croat diaspora in Australia, with a tradition of over 150 years.

Formally and legally, Čović has hardly violated the protocol for working visits to other countries. Working visits are most often made at the invitation of the host. The host invites whomever they wish. In addition to Čović, Čović's chief of staff Tonka Krešić-Gagro, two escorts Zoran Marinčić and Dranijel Kraljević, Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Nevenko Herceg, editor-in-chief of the BiH edition of Večernji list Jozo Pavković, and three other individuals also traveled to Australia. The only point of contention could be who paid the expensive costs of the large delegation, the organizer or the Presidency of BiH.

The ethnically homogeneous composition of the entire delegation is striking. Such visits are illogical, to say the least. Namely, according to reports, the delegation was supposed to have interstate meetings with the executive and political authorities of New Zealand and Australia. Secondly, such delegations travel at the expense of the state budget and at the same time represent this country in an ethnically homogeneous manner.

The Sarajevo weekly “Stav” reported that apart from the meeting with the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, Čović failed to organize a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Also, it was not possible to organize a meeting between Čović and the Australian Prime Minister, nor with the Australian Minister of Justice, which was allegedly their intention. The question is what benefit the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina would have gained from Čović's visit to New Zealand and Australia, even if he had met with these high-ranking officials.

From Australia, Čović sent messages that he is trying to do good for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the composition of his team suggests that this was not his real intention.

Čović's visit to Australia can be called a state trip for private interests.