Is it Elmedin Konaković or Zorica Brunclik: It's getting darker, and the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs isn't taking off his rose-tinted glasses!

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

The European Commission's report on Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress on the path to integration is one of the worst. This is how journalists and analysts interpret what is written. Because, for the most part, the report contains assessments - no progress at all and weak progress. Therefore, what is offered as a perception of progress is a product of geopolitical trends and not political action within the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, reading what the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmedin Konaković, has been saying for the last two days, I can't help but wonder if he has a split personality. Because, somehow, he resembles a political Zorica Brunclik with pink highlights and glasses more than a serious leader of a political party and, on top of that, the head of diplomacy.

On two media outlets in the last two days, at the end of this year 2023, Konaković has been telling us fairy tales about how we are now a more advanced society, traveling by express train to the European Union, while at the same time, political plans are fully developing domestically to at least resemble a modern state. Dodik has lost his secessionism, Čović has abandoned the apartheid model of legitimate representation, political corruption has vanished, Bosnia and Herzegovina is, not to exaggerate, on par with France when discussing power centers…

Wake up, Elmedin, and take off those Zorica glasses, because there is no European path, Dodik has almost realized secession, Čović is blocking the Federation because of Marin Vukoja and legitimate representation, we are talked about in power centers but as a terrorist base, Ramo Isak is the only one talking about fighting corruption (that doesn't even need commenting), and corruption is flourishing even though it's calendar winter…

Spinning, lies, and propaganda are indeed an integral part of diplomacy, but they are used internationally; there is no need for our Minister of Foreign Affairs to spin that everything is rosy in Bosnia and Herzegovina when we know just one fact - Moldova will open negotiations, Bosnia and Herzegovina will not.

It makes one wonder what's wrong with him. Minister Konaković, we are entering the New Year without a budget at the state and FBiH entity level, and we have largely failed to condition laws that would improve the European and economic outlook for the citizens of this country.

It is clear that Konaković is the president of a party in power, but instead of trying to gain political points through populist spinning and selling illusions, it would be much more purposeful for him to do the job he is paid for.

Because the first year of his mandate, during which he led BiH diplomacy, was spent in unsuccessful attempts to convince us that thanks to him and the 'troika', we had gotten somewhere, while we are stuck somewhere. At the same time, on the regional level, Minister Konaković's only success was showing his true colors when he subserviently remained silent before the Croatian public about facts established before the International Court of Justice.

And while Serbia maximally exploited international support, and Bosnia and Herzegovina ended up at the back of the European and NATO path, Minister Konaković is trying to convince us to believe him instead of our own eyes.

Therefore, instead of a New Year's wish for the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, I would recommend that he stop the project of creating a 'Greater Serbia' which is largely financed through BiH institutions, and also try to thwart the diplomatic offensive being carried out against BiH by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who will be in Banja Luka on January 9th to mark the unconstitutional day of Republika Srpska.

And yes, Minister Konaković, do you know that Bosnia and Herzegovina could soon be left without property, and therefore without statehood. How much international support have you secured to return the state property of Bosnia and Herzegovina, instead of it turning into a territory where a Greater Serbia will be created?

Nothing is rosy, Minister Konaković, and all indications are that it will only get darker!