Džaferović: Strengthen EUFOR, it is better to prevent evil than to cure it

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Šefik Džaferović, as part of an official visit to the institutions of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, with whom he discussed several issues important for BiH-EU relations.

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović, as part of an official visit to the institutions of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, with whom he discussed several issues important for BiH-EU relations.

Džaferović said in a statement after the meeting that he discussed numerous important issues concerning BiH with Michel.

- This is a very important meeting for me. An important meeting for my country, for Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we talked with the first man of the European Union about issues concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina and the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. The first topic that must be considered at all meetings at this moment is the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina's position on that issue. I informed Michel of Bosnia and Herzegovina's positions. They are also known to him. Bosnia and Herzegovina has sided with the civilized part of the world, the part of the world that condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine, the part of the world that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the part of the world that joins restrictive measures, resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the positions of the European Commission - Džaferović said.

He emphasized that the meeting also discussed the situation within BiH.

- The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not good. The institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are blocked, the authorities of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of Republika Srpska are taking measures to undermine the reforms that we have painstakingly built over 27 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I asked for support so that, with the help of the European Union and the action of the European Union, the retrograde decisions of the RS Assembly be annulled and that Bosnia and Herzegovina be helped through the action of the European Union to unblock the institutions and for Bosnia and Herzegovina to function normally - Džaferović said.

As he said, he also discussed the international military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Michel.

- I said that it is necessary to strengthen EUFOR, because it is better to prevent evil than to cure it later, it is better to prevent a fire than to put it out. The very fact that there has been an increase in EUFOR forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the capacity of that mission, has in itself significantly stabilized the situation in my country. I believe that strengthening and reinforcing EUFOR will further stabilize the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Džaferović added.

The meeting with the President of the European Council also discussed the overall action of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- I think the international community needs to act more decisively in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also discussed constitutional and electoral reforms within Bosnia and Herzegovina and the elections that are to be held this year. These are the topics that Michel and I discussed. I thank him once again for a very sincere and friendly meeting - he stated.

Džaferović emphasized that during the visit he will also hold a meeting with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

- In the meeting with Michel, I also discussed the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path and our candidate status. I will discuss all these issues with the President of the European Commission as well, and my special request to the most responsible people of the European Union is that they advocate for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be granted candidate status. I know that Bosnia and Herzegovina, unfortunately, due to destructive forces, has not fulfilled the conditions from the fourteen priorities. Some laws were also rejected, the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Law on Conflict of Interest, the Law on Public Procurement, in the House of Peoples of the state parliament last week. But despite that, bearing in mind the situation happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the blockade of institutions, the attempt to undermine reforms, the threats that exist related to Russian aggression against Ukraine, I asked that Bosnia and Herzegovina be taken care of and that at this moment Bosnia and Herzegovina be granted candidate status as a geostrategic and geopolitical decision. That would help Bosnia and Herzegovina a great deal, that would be a very positive signal for all the people in my country - Džaferović said at the end of the conversation.