Komšić: Friendly US warns us benevolently about obligations, because NATO is a matter of survival for BiH

For the leader of the Democratic Front and state representative Željko Komšić, today's statement by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Brian Hoyt Yee that other countries are making and implementing reforms and moving towards the EU and NATO, but politicians in BiH are still having difficulties reaching an agreement, is a benevolent warning to the local leaders to stop obstructing and finally start fulfilling their obligations because time is inexorably running out.

Komšić welcomes the efforts of the international community to help BiH on its path to the EU and NATO, and especially the efforts of the US administration, which has always been a friend to the state of BiH and its citizens, writes the Patria News Agency.

- The appeal to the Appellate Division of the Court of BiH, related to the verdict ordering the registration of former JNA property in Han Pijesak to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be a priority in deciding on the appeal of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, due to the overall context, and especially from the aspect of fulfilling the conditions for activating the MAP. It is unclear to me why the verdict is not being announced, as it would allow for the immediate registration of the property, which would be key for the BiH delegation that will be at the NATO summit in Warsaw in June to activate the MAP - Komšić told NAP and added:   

- I truly want to believe that the judiciary is independent, but I cannot shake the impression that, specifically in this case, it is still under the control of extra-institutional centers of power. I understand why Milorad Dodik is obstructing the path to NATO, but I do not understand the silence of Bakir Izetbegović and Dragan Čović.

I do not recall them ever voluntarily commenting on the verdict, without foreign diplomats bringing up the issue, nor even demanding an answer in the BiH Parliament to the question of why the Appellate Division of the Constitutional Court of BiH has been waiting for over half a year for a response.

I cannot figure it out, so I wonder if the ruling coalition perhaps benefits from this very blockade on the path to NATO. Because the closer we get to Euro-Atlantic integration as a whole, the more obligated we are to fulfill conditions such as the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and the rule of law. For me, the activation of the MAP and BiH's entry into NATO is a matter of survival for BiH and an existential issue for the region - Komšić concludes.  

Reminder: DF also insisted on the issue of property during coalition negotiations

As a reminder, when coalition negotiations were conducted at the state level after the October 2014 elections, at one point, the issue of registering military property to the state of BiH, which was an explicit condition of the Democratic Front, caused a standstill.

EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATIONS: Adopt a rational and efficient mechanism for coordinating European affairs in BiH as soon as possible. Agree with the European Commission on priority socio-economic reforms in a partnership manner, and on the entry into force of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. Immediately begin implementing the agreed reforms and thus ensure the submission of a credible application for EU membership.

In accordance with the obligations from the Law on Defense of BiH and previously adopted decisions of the BiH Presidency, register 63 locations of prospective military property as soon as possible.