Nelson: Washington will not change its approach to BiH

(Patria) - Regardless of speculation due to the change of government in the US, no significant change in Washington's approach to BiH should be expected, said former US Ambassador to our country Eric Nelson in an interview with N1 .

Nelson says that based on recent experiences and closer history, when looking at Washington's approach to the region, more has remained the same than has changed, especially regarding territorial integrity, sovereignty, and success.

- What also remains constant is our commitment to fighting corruption, deterring and dissuading, and opposing those who undermine Dayton and/or participate in corruption that undermines democracy and undermines US interests.

During the first Trump administration, we saw the administration's support for economic and financial sanctions to advance our interests. I don't think that will change. I think transitions offer an opportunity to rethink what works and what doesn't.

And also, I think, it can help to disarm some useless rhetoric like the myth that Washington is anti-Serb or anti-Croat or anti-Bosniak. Washington is simply for BiH - Nelson said.

The former ambassador also has a message for those who, as he says, make victims of themselves due to sanctions.

- Sanctions are guided by facts and rhetoric. Those who are sanctioned like to spin this with rhetoric, and perhaps think it is useful to portray themselves as victims.

That is not the purpose. The purpose is to deter behaviors and actions that are so corrosive to BiH's success and to try to guide and encourage the country to move in a constructive and positive direction. And at every moment, we hope that leaders will take those steps - said Nelson.

He added at the end that, regardless of who sits in the State Department or on Capitol Hill, solutions to the problems and relations in BiH will not come from those addresses, but should come from Bosnia and Herzegovina.