Kasanof: BiH leaders must now agree to act on three EU conditions

(Patria) - Alexander Kasanof, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, has completed his first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"First, I want to express my sincere condolences to the communities affected by this devastating disaster in BiH. The United States government is in close communication with authorities in BiH to determine how we can best provide support in this extremely challenging and dangerous situation.

I also want to congratulate the Central Election Commission (CEC) on preparing and conducting the municipal elections on Sunday. The United States was pleased to support the CEC by funding a pilot project for the trial use of ballot scanners that directly transmit results at 145 polling stations across BiH. All voters should have confidence that their vote will be counted as they cast it, and like civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we call on the authorities to take the necessary steps, including adopting the 2025 budget, to ensure the installation of ballot scanners at all polling stations in BiH for the 2026 general elections.

On Monday, I met with the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister Konaković, and I will share with you what I told them:

The United States strongly supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Attacks on the Dayton Peace Agreement and BiH, and calls for peaceful separation – another name for secession – coming from Mr. Dodik are irresponsible. This is a dangerous path that leads neither BiH nor its citizens anywhere, and exposes the future of the Republika Srpska to risk, which I emphasized in all my meetings. I also stressed that the United States will continue to use all available instruments, including sanctions, and will hold accountable those who threaten or attempt to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement as well as the state of BiH and its institutions.

I also reiterated to both the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister Konaković that the United States strongly supports BiH's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, NATO and the EU. The decisions made by NATO, and especially the EU, including the establishment of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, provide BiH with a unique opportunity to make concrete progress in achieving its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, which is what the citizens of this country want and deserve. But for that to happen, leaders and institutions must stop with blockades and work together to adopt all necessary reforms," he said.

He added that they do not want Bosnia and Herzegovina to fall behind while other countries in the region benefit from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

"BiH leaders must now agree to act on three EU conditions: The National Assembly of Republika Srpska must appoint judges to the Constitutional Court of BiH, and the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH must be respected and implemented throughout the country; the BiH Competition Law, including state aid, must be implemented at all levels of government, in accordance with the EU acquis, and all administrative bodies entrusted with it, including the BiH Competition Council and the BiH State Aid Council, must make professional decisions without ethnically-based veto. And finally, BiH must align its visa regime with the EU visa regime.

I also met with the commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General Valas, and High Representative Christian Schmidt. I reiterated that the US supports them in what they are doing regarding the promotion of this country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. I also emphasized to the High Representative that he has the support of the United States in using the Bonn Powers, when necessary.

For 30 years, the United States has been a close friend and partner of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I look forward to continuing to work together to build a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for all citizens of BiH," Kasanof added.