Hahn: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of great potential, but it is returning to violent patterns

Janice Hahn (USA), representative from California's 44th district, is seeking a new approach by the United States to resolving problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The resolution was sent to debate immediately after the visit to the USA by the president of HDZ 1990 and candidate for the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency in the upcoming elections, Martin Raguž, which took place at the end of May this year, announced this party, as reported by the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

- Martin Raguž's visit to the United States, its institutions and officials, as well as the Croatian community in that country, which is particularly interested in the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is showing its first significant results, with the return of US interest in the long-standing problems in BiH and in finding new solutions – announced HDZ 1990.

- We can say that these are the first serious results of a meeting between a Bosnian-Herzegovinian politician and important figures in American policy towards BiH, which occurred at a time of the deepest post-Dayton crisis and at a time of extreme need to create a new approach towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, both from outside and within the country itself – they further emphasized from this party.

From HDZ 1990, they note that Joe Foley, a long-time observer of the political situation in the Balkans and a persistent advocate for closer rapprochement of the countries in the region towards the West, also emphasized that the recent visit of Martin Raguž to the United States provided a significant contribution to renewing Congress's interest in maintaining constructive pressure on official Washington on this issue.

- Regardless of the many crisis points in the world that are currently diverting attention from BiH, many in the USA still hope for further economic and political changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Foley, announced HDZ 1990, as reported by Patria.

When presenting the Resolution in the House of Representatives on July 31 this year, HDZ 1990 recalls that Congresswoman Hahn stated in the Congressional Record: „While the United States demanded that the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves initiate the necessary changes, we witnessed how a country of great political and economic potential is returning to violent patterns.

As the representative of California's 44th district, an area where the Croatian community is closely integrated, I am first-hand aware of the concern regarding the growing political instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This region is key to the successful integration of the broader international community. Therefore, we have an obligation to support democratic processes and the development of a free market, goals that were established and initiated with great effort.

Because of all the above, I call on this session of Congress to appoint a special presidential envoy to assess the consequences of the Dayton Agreement so far and to provide tangible political recommendations... My greatest hope is that the USA will be a catalyst for future changes and their success“.

- During his stay in the USA, the President of HDZ 1990 repeatedly emphasized the importance of returning the focus to BiH, not only of the EU but also of the USA, due to its extremely important and historical role in stopping the war in these areas. The President also said that negative messages should not be sent from BiH, but that work should be done on establishing a BiH that will bring a better life to all peoples in the country, announced HDZ 1990, as reported by NAP.