Komšić and Džaferović on the crisis in BiH: Dodik is trading with the international community

(Patria) - Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović, at today's Balkan Integration Forum in Montenegro, also spoke about the current political situation and how to overcome the crisis.

Džaferović stated that the main problem in BiH is the lack of willingness on the part of those responsible in the international community to ensure that the principle of the rule of law is fully respected in BiH.

“The most difficult aspect of the crisis is the dysfunction of its institutions, and we lack a mechanism to end this blockade, which is being abused. Demands are being made, and instead of our friends focusing on unblocking the work of institutions, there are some who want to discuss and negotiate certain demands. We must respect everything that is in the Dayton Agreement, and that is primarily the functioning of the state. This should be the approach of our mediators and friends. It is not good to negotiate about the BiH Constitutional Court, the law on the prohibition of genocide denial, it is not good to negotiate about the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. All of this must be respected, and then decisions should be made through Parliament and other institutions,” said Džaferović. He added that EU institutions should have a more careful approach towards the Western Balkan countries.

He stated that no one in the Western Balkans can dominate anyone anymore, and we can only move forward if we are equal.

“If there is no agreement, there are institutions of international law. There are no more or less important countries in the Western Balkans, and there are no more or less valuable peoples within those countries,”

Željko Komšić emphasized that dialogue between domestic politicians is always the best solution.

“But you have a problem when someone refuses to talk, when someone asks you for absurd things, like my colleague Dodik, who is trading with the international community. He doesn't want to talk to us; he asks the international community to secure a reduction in the BiH Armed Forces for him, give me property, forests, public goods, common goods in RS so I can sell them, build hydroelectric power plants on the Drina. The Constitutional Court has made its decision. He is negotiating with foreigners; he wants an agreement with them,” said Komšić.

He added that there are two ways out, but he expects nothing from foreigners.

“In my opinion, the way out is for domestic institutions to start doing their job. In Parliament, Mr. Dodik can resolve these demands of his. You don't like a law in Parliament, and you seek an amendment to the law. But he won't do that. You cannot destroy the constitutional order with impunity; you cannot say I have a law on the BiH Armed Forces, in which law I participated, and I am withdrawing. How would they react in any other normal country?” said Komšić.

Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović, speaking about the situation within the EU, stated that it will be necessary to maintain enlargement policies.

“The EU, in addition to its obligations towards the enlargement policy or the unification of Europe, has a responsibility to raise the geopolitical significance of the EU. Whoever does not notice that we are facing a new geopolitical outcome, I think the era of a superpower in Europe has also ended. Where will Europe find itself in this? There is no doubt where the US, China, or Russia will be. But I wonder where Europe will be. If it wants to be a geopolitical player, we will all have to stop pretending, stop ignoring that deviations from the fundamental principles on which the EU is based are happening in the Balkans and within the EU itself. The sooner we find an answer, the easier it will be for all of us who want to join the European family,” said Đukanović.