Nothing is disputable there: The problem lies with policies and Schmidt, not state property!

By: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

Discussions about state property are once again being presented as a "technical issue" that hinders investments, development, and international projects, but the essence is completely different.

Politicians, as well as High Representative Christian Schmidt, repeat that everything must be resolved in accordance with the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH. This is true, except that many of those who say it have been actively working to the contrary for years.

And let's be clear, almost equally in both entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Because it is not state property that blocks Corridor 5C, the Southern Interconnection, or any other major project. They are blocked by policies that persistently try to dispute what is elementary and clear: state property is the property of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Not entity, not cantonal, not local, but state. The name itself says it, and the rulings of the Constitutional Court confirm it.

When the High Representative states that "the issue of property hinders the development of BiH," he fails to mention the key thing: it is hindered by the political will not to respect the constitutional order. There is no mystery about what constitutes state property.

It is only unclear to those who benefit from it being unclear, because entire political careers thrive on the constant dispute over competencies and blockades.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not standing still because of property; it is standing still because of those who refuse to accept that the state exists. And the longer this farce lasts, the more investments, development projects, and international partners will wonder if it is even worth investing in a system where elementary matters turn into multi-year political crises.