Komšić: BiH's NATO path must continue

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Željko Komšić, Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, said that the authorities of Republika Srpska and municipal authorities must relocate the church from the yard of Nana Fata Orlović in Konjević Polje after 20 years, in accordance with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. 

“I am not optimistic, but I want to believe that we will all become more normal.”

Komšić also commented on his address at the UN General Assembly session in New York. He emphasized that he held several useful meetings. 

“I tried to speak diplomatically, and only stated facts that are known to all of us. I saw that those words caused completely different interpretations. They put words in my mouth that I did not say, nor did I even think of them.”

Regarding the statements of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović that Komšić is an “illegitimate representative,” Komšić said that he does not understand why they react to irrelevant people and statements. 

“I only said what is true. In a way, I understand them. There are situations when the truth does not suit me either. I am always for sticking to facts, not for feigning false political correctness. I did not mention any country by name there. It is interesting how they recognized themselves,” Komšić told Dan uživo on N1. 

He said that he is ready to talk with anyone from Croatia, but that the dignity and interests of BiH must be protected at all costs. 

“I see no reason to feign political correctness at the expense of BiH. People holding positions in Croatia have not even thought of commenting on internal affairs in Hungary or Slovenia, but they comment on everything concerning BiH. These are double standards towards BiH,” said Komšić. 

He commented on the departure of representatives of political parties from Republika Srpska to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. 

“President Vučić acted quite wisely in the given circumstances. In his place, I would not even have agreed to hold that meeting. I don't know who called that meeting. Everything that happened in Belgrade showed that Milorad Dodik cannot dictate to the authorities in Belgrade. With his actions and by involving Serbia, he is raising the bar for Vučić,” said Komšić, adding that it will be seen at the upcoming meeting between the BiH Presidency and Vučić whether it will yield any results. 

Komšić said that the appointment of Matthew Palmer as the US Special Representative for the Western Balkans is a signal that the State Department is paying attention to this region to prevent things from getting out of control. 

“BiH must continue its path towards NATO. These are important matters. Apples and rakija from Dodik's estate cannot be more important than the fate of the people in Republika Srpska. Things must be taken seriously, and we must talk with important people,” said Komšić. 

Commenting on the Declaration adopted by SDA at its Congress, Komšić said that he does not understand how a Bosniak party can be simultaneously a civic party. 

“SDA is predominantly an ethnic party. Something is clashing there, because the party's concept must change. In my opinion, SDA wanted to emphasize and move more towards a Bosnian-Herzegovinian political option. But to achieve that, a long road is needed, a change of matrix. I advocate for that idea, but I am aware that I will not live to see it, but you cannot steal that idea,” said Komšić, adding that only BiH protects all of us. 

“Neither SDA, nor HDZ, nor SNSD protects us, but BiH does. Without BiH, none of us exist, politically we do not exist. And when you don't exist politically, you don't exist anywhere,” Komšić points out. 

He said that he was not aware of Izetbegović's meeting with HDZ, nor what the agreements on the MAP meant. He reiterated that without the MAP, there will be no appointment of a candidate for the composition of the Council of Ministers of BiH. He does not expect the government to be formed soon either. 

“We are asked nothing more than to develop the interoperability of our BiH Armed Forces with NATO forces and to work on the operational capabilities of our BiH Armed Forces. Is that the minimum? Let's say it is, but that's what NATO is asking for. The maximum would be to allocate 2% of GDP to the defense sector,” said Komšić.  

Commenting on Dodik's latest statements about the withdrawal of foreign judges from the Constitutional Court of BiH, Komšić said that this is the original Dayton. 

“It is up to Dodik to decide what he wants, or if someone is advising him incorrectly, or if he doesn't know what he's reading. If he wants the original Dayton, then he has the original Dayton. He can't say 'I want it now, I don't want it now.' Such statements by Dodik only further complicate the situation,” emphasized the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH.