OVERVIEW Palmer and conclusions: Civic option is the light in BiH!

A. Čorbo-Zećo

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Matthew Palmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America and Special Envoy of the State Department for the Balkans, paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and after all statements, the situation is completely clear and international officials and Palmer himself, although the details of the meetings remained behind closed doors, give full support to the civic option of BiH.

The meeting between Nermin Nikšić, Elmedin Konaković, and Predrag Kojović with Palmer lasted significantly longer than planned, almost twice as long. It was clearly conveyed that they could be the light in BiH, and it is known that Palmer had words of praise for the KS Government formed by the 'six-party coalition'. The meeting with the leaders of the parties that are now in opposition also clearly shows a commitment to further support.  

None of the mentioned party leaders could reveal details, but sources from the US Embassy also point out that Konaković has been amnestied from the narrative about his radicalism, which is most represented in the media by Željko Komšić and DF, the party that embraced nationalist parties and served as an alibi for SDA that the civic pro-Bosnian bloc also stands behind such policies. 

As is becoming increasingly clear, for BiH to function fully as a democratic country, it is not necessary to see Bosniaks, Croats, or Serbs among the citizens of BiH; it is necessary to simply see people, citizens.

Of course, the status of a citizen absolutely does not prevent or limit anyone from expressing and preserving their national and religious identity. 

But it is precisely in this concept that salvation should be sought. One should only talk about the order of values, perceiving the citizen and everything that arises from that concept as an advantage over all else, but without neglecting or suppressing anything else.

Željko Komšić not so long ago stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina will, sooner or later, be a civic state.

“We all know that it cannot happen literally tomorrow, but all of us who love the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina must have that kind of awareness. We must never abandon the idea of a civic state, because that would mean betrayal of all those who gave their lives for BiH.”

However, it is not enough to just say something; it must also be applied through political action.

This is precisely why the concept of the 'four-party coalition' appealed to the American administration, and Komšić missed the opportunity to be a part of it. 

When it comes to political parties of the so-called civic and left orientation based in Sarajevo, initiatives aimed at unification, or at least some form of joint appearance in elections, date back to the period before the local elections in 2016. Everything failed, so the attempt to unite even with centrist parties remained a good political story with the message that it is not too late for BiH.

This has been recognized by EU countries, as well as the US. This can be clearly read from Palmer's messages.

"Hate speech in BiH is not a path to the future you want for yourselves or your children," Palmer said.

And you don't need much to understand who is sowing hatred and that nationalist parties, encouraged by 'satellites' presented as the civic part of the government, are dragging BiH into a retrograde past where only hatred and death exist.