HISTORY IS THE TEACHER OF LIFE EUFOR's Calculations and the Hypocrisy of the International Community

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The European Union's decision not to use EUFOR to arrest Milorad Dodik and other officials of Republika Srpska, as reported by Istraga, with the explanation that "they do not want to risk the lives of their soldiers," once again shows the duplicity of the international community towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The foreigners are scolding the BiH representatives, the very ones they brought to power with their support, who are not coping well in the positions of power they hold, as at times they resemble 'chance passers-by'.

Far be it from the international community to be obliged to solve BiH's problems, but their responsibility is great. First and foremost, because they shaped BiH exactly as it is, gave power to that very Dodik, and now...

This hypocrisy is not new – it dates back to the aggression against BiH (1992-1995), when key world powers showed inability or disinterest in stopping the bloodshed and protecting the internationally recognized state.

Today, when BiH's judicial institutions issue arrest warrants for politicians who openly undermine the constitutional order of the state, the international community repeats the familiar pattern of indecisiveness and avoidance of responsibility. Instead of concrete action, we witness verbal condemnations and statements that bring no real consequences. At the same time, EUFOR states that it "will not arrest Dodik," while BiH authorities have not even requested their assistance, which indicates fear or calculation on the part of domestic political actors.

This stance by EUFOR comes in the context of earlier examples when international forces were involved in law enforcement in BiH.

The arrests of those accused of war crimes, such as SFOR and NATO actions against members of the military and political leadership of Bosnian Serbs, or leaders of the Croatian self-government, show that there were no obstacles to such interventions in the past.

Now, when we are faced with politicians who openly defy the state's legal system, the international community shows no willingness to support the enforcement of the law. And, thanks to them, Dodik has power!

The hypocrisy of the international community is most evident in the memory of its role during the aggression against BiH. While mass crimes were occurring in Sarajevo, Srebrenica, and other cities, world powers claimed they "could not" intervene militarily, limiting themselves to imposing an arms embargo – which directly benefited the aggressor.

At the same time, UNPROFOR, instead of protecting civilians, acted as a passive observer or even aided the aggressor, as was the case in Srebrenica in 1995.

Time has always been on the side of the enemy, just as it is today on the side of Milorad Dodik. Every day that passes without him being arrested, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a lesser state.

Now, almost three decades later, we see a continuation of the same pattern.

Throughout history, the international community has shown an inability, and often a willing disinterest, to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH.

Today's situation, in which EUFOR refuses to provide concrete support for the implementation of judicial decisions, is merely a continuation of the policy from the 1990s. Bosnia and Herzegovina is once again facing the threat of destabilization, while the international community calculates and avoids any risk, leaving domestic institutions to solve a problem that they themselves are hardly capable of solving.

The question remains whether history will repeat itself, or if the international community will finally recognize the need for concrete action, instead of empty statements and diplomatic phrases that mean nothing to anyone.

Željana Zovko clearly spoke the truth when she stated in Brussels that she knows who EUFOR will protect, and that it is embassies and foreign officials. Although EUFOR has denied these claims and stated that their priority is the protection of the population, we should increasingly recall the statement of Željko Komšić, member of the Presidency of BiH: International recognition was preceded by our own, let's call it, civic self-recognition, or rather, a gained awareness that in the fight for the independence of our state, we can and must rely primarily on ourselves and our own strength.