Komšić for FTV: Only Lukashenko and Dodik are talking to Moscow today

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Željko Komšić, was a guest on Federal Television's Dnevnik 2 on the eve of Independence Day, stating that Josep Borrell and Jens Stoltenberg have reasons to worry about security in BiH.

"We have previously noticed a threat to the security of the entire region, not just BiH, when it comes to Russian influence. It is good that both Borell and Stoltenberg are reacting in this way, it is good that additional EUFOR troops are coming to BiH. I would be happier if they were NATO troops, which have a mandate based on the Dayton Peace Agreement, but in any case, increased interest from both NATO and the EU in the security situation in BiH and the entire region could be seen as a positive sign."

Regarding today's conversation between Milorad Dodik and Sergey Lavrov, he says: "In today's world of disinformation, who knows what they talked about. The fact is that the conversation took place at Dodik's request, not the Russian side's, and that is, in my opinion, another wrong move by Dodik. Today, only Lukashenko and Dodik are talking to Moscow. I don't know what Dodik said there and what he asked for, but we will conclude what it was about from his actions in the coming days."

Komšić believes that NATO responded to the Russian invasion as best it could.

"Regardless of how it all looks to the Ukrainians, NATO could not risk a direct conflict with the Russian army, as that would almost certainly lead to a world, probably nuclear, war. NATO is giving Ukraine what we wish we had in '92, and unfortunately, we didn't have it, and that is military aid."

He explains that BiH has an obligation to follow the EU's foreign and security policy.

"Mr. Sattler came to me to thank me for our clear stance regarding the entire situation around Ukraine. Of course, as a UN member state, we have an obligation, we have a Stabilization and Association Agreement, which for us in BiH represents an obligation to align our foreign and security policy with the EU. We have a statement from the Presidency from 2014 that speaks precisely about Ukraine and respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Therefore, BiH has all the necessary prerequisites, or rather acts, for everything that means supporting Ukraine today, which means joining the policy of the EU and even the USA, and our declaration has not only a subjective feeling that we should be on the right side, but also a basis in international agreements and everything that constitutes BiH's foreign policy. That is why we do not need Dodik's consent, regardless of what he thinks."

"BiH has existed as a separate, internationally recognized entity, an independent state for three decades. Let's protect this country. Let's not realize what we had if we lose it. This country must be preserved at all costs. Too many sacrifices have been made for this country. Let's protect it, as it is, it is ours," concluded Komšić.