Ivanić: Great powers are "fighting" over BiH, some agreement exists

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has clearly found itself in a situation, thanks to local politicians, where "the great powers are fighting over us", assessed today in a conversation with journalists in Baku the former member of the Presidency of BiH and former head of BiH diplomacy Mladen Ivanić, one of the participants of the 8th Global Baku Forum.

Commenting on the adoption of the Resolution in the United Nations Security Council, which extended the mandate of the European Union Force (EUFOR), although the possibility of a Russian veto was previously mentioned, Ivanić says that "Mr. Dodik, who initially claimed that EUFOR would not be approved, has clearly agreed with the continuation of EUFOR, and later realized that it was wiser for EUFOR to be approved, while Russia was also interested in EUFOR being approved".

In his opinion, it is evident from this resolution that the battles of major players regarding BiH are ongoing, writes Fena. 

- They are deceiving each other, and I would say that what we have had the opportunity to see so far is only the first part of this game. There are probably agreements we don't know about, which will become visible in 15, 20, or a month. It is difficult to say what they are, but they certainly exist. I doubt that the Resolution would have been passed unanimously if someone did not put a veto if there was no agreement that suited everyone - said Ivanić.

He further states that it is evident that there is some agreement that suits Russia, the USA, and the key members of the UN Security Council.

- If there was something against any of them, they would have vetoed it. As soon as there is no veto, there is something that suits everyone. What it is, we will see - he commented.

Some observers interpreted the Resolution as a defeat for the West because they agreed to remove the High Representative from it, so that Russia would not veto it.

Ivanić says it is very difficult for him to say what the motive of the Western countries is, but that he would not look at things unilaterally, since if there is a winner, there would be losers who would have vetoed. Clearly, no one felt they had lost enough to veto.

He further points out that this battle of the great powers has been ongoing since the beginning of the process of appointing the High Representative. On one side are those who say he is legitimate, and on the other are those who dispute him.

Ivanić thinks that the entire mandate period of Christian Schmidt, however long it may be, will be marked by this battle, which, especially at the beginning, limits his room for maneuver. But, as time goes by, we will see which of these two concepts of the OHR will become dominant.

In the end, he says he is not happy that the "great powers are fighting" because of BiH.

- That is never good, but we have clearly entered a situation, thanks to local politicians, where the great powers are fighting over us. And when the great powers fight over a small country, that country will certainly not fare well - concluded Ivanić.