Ashdown: I am confused by the silence of Bosniaks in the face of the obvious division of BiH

Former High Representative in BiH Paddy Ashdown addressed participants and students at a conference on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, where he particularly emphasized that while walking to the Unitic building, he remembered 1992 and the sniper fire on the streets of Sarajevo.

Speaking about the Dayton Peace Agreement, Ashdown said that it ended the war in BiH, but that care must be taken so that it does not become a "tragedy of missed opportunities".

- The international community and BiH politicians must change quickly, or this will end in tragedy. As we know, the Balkans is a land of irony, and the Dayton Peace Agreement is no exception. Those who were enthusiastic about the agreement (Bosniaks) now hate it because it prevents the building of a united country. Serbs love it because it allows stagnation and enables the dream of some for a separate state. Many Croats did not like Dayton because it stopped the dream of Herceg-Bosna - said Ashdown.

As he said, when he left BiH in 2006, he was convinced that this country would enter Europe as a whole and integrated.

- I was convinced that BiH could and would be one of Europe's most valuable jewels and that Christians and Muslims could live together in one country as partners. That judgment of mine seems irrational now. Bosnia was not a failure then, it was recognized as a success. Dayton is considered an exceptional international agreement that was based on the will and power to work in a space where it is possible to build a stable state. When we look at Syria today, Dayton can serve as a context for how a humanitarian crisis can be resolved - emphasizes Ashdown.

According to him, although the first 10 post-Dayton years, when BiH moved forward (people gained freedom of movement, reformed judiciary was established, three armies were united into one, intelligence service, unified customs service, and most importantly, a unified indirect taxation system was established), should not be forgotten, the last 10 years have not led to progress.

- Most of it was about obstructionism and missed opportunities. There are irresponsible politicians in BiH, and there are also in Great Britain. Ten years ago, optimism about the future of BiH was not as irrational as it seems today, and it only seems to me that a fool would not see the dark clouds gathering.
- Before I left BiH, I regret that we did not work on one thing that BiH lacked, and that was a non-political police force that would operate under a state ministry, and I regret that we did not succeed in doing that. No major reforms were implemented during my mandate, nor were they imposed; all reforms went through Bosnian democratic institutions and were the result of the brave Bosnian politicians at the time. Many of them paid a price for it - said Ashdown.

Ashdown particularly emphasized that many politicians who were accused often avoided sanctions, their cases were dismissed or tried in lower courts, and documentation was lost.

- If state judiciary is not strengthened, BiH will become a criminal captive state; the judiciary at the state level must be strengthened; if it is weakened, it will serve the personal interests of those who weakened it - said Ashdown.

Pursuing Entity Politics

Bosnian politicians are directing all their efforts towards entity politics, not towards the state, and is it possible that no one sees where this is leading, that it all started in 1992 like this.

If a referendum is held in RS, which is claimed to be a democratic right, it will be fatal for the state.

- I hear that in RS we have an order in primary schools to change the name of the Bosnian language, and most Bosniaks have withdrawn their children from school in protest.

If I remember correctly, the Bosnian language was specifically mentioned in the Dayton Agreement, so why did the international community not take any action to stop this provocative move and stop it.

Ashdown also touched upon the situation around Mostar and the creation of a third entity, which is being talked about more and more.

- The introduction of a third electoral unit is being sought; are there not those who suspect that this is the first step towards creating a third entity? The silence of Bosniaks confuses me, as if there is a tacit agreement to quietly allow three mutually hostile ethnic enclaves so that they can better control their pockets. This cannot be the foundation for a stable European state. Who will stand up and fight for it - said Ashdown.

The International Community Has Lost Its Will

The former High Representative said that it seems to him that the international community has lost its will, and BiH politicians have abandoned the vision of progress.

- This country, whose peace is based on the process of reintegration, has decisively moved towards disintegration. Is it possible that no one sees the danger? What is most depressing for BiH is that there is no indication that something new is coming; where is that new generation, where are those who will fight to create a Bosnia of the future? I only see those who create new tensions.

Although he said he does not believe there will be a new conflict in BiH, he cannot completely rule out that idea.

- If something new does not start to happen, the future of BiH and the future of all its citizens could be jeopardized. Even if Europe accepts BiH, who will invest in a country with corruption, a dysfunctional government, where will jobs come from? How will BiH move forward? The candidate status is a great goal, but it will not solve your problems.

In two decades of my presence in BiH, I can say that I greatly appreciate this country and its people, and that feeling gives me the right to speak to you openly and honestly. All citizens in BiH are at the most dangerous crossroads - said Ashdown.

He also sent messages to the international community to "wake up and smell the danger," to Washington that "Dayton is your work, you cannot allow Dayton to remain unfinished and violated; if you don't defend it, who will?"

- Message to Brussels: You have been dragging your feet for too long; if you do not take energetic action to protect your investment, you could lose it. Message to Bosnian politicians: if you cannot find the courage to push aside the goals of war and focus on a functional BiH, then step aside and make room for others to do it. Message to the younger generations: This is your country, and the only future you have is here. Now is the time to get involved and do not stand aside - said Ashdown.