Misquoted statement by Izetbegović causes regional backlash

BELGRADE/BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Nebojša Stefanović said he hopes President Aleksandar Vučić will convene the National Security Council due to Bakir Izetbegović's statement on recognizing Kosovo.

“Such announcements are not good for the situation in the region. I expect Aleksandar Vučić to convene the National Security Council within the next 48 hours due to Bakir Izetbegović's announcement that BiH will recognize Kosovo's independence. This body will consider the state's further steps and our stance towards such a move by Izetbegović,” Stefanović stated.

Tanjug earlier today broadcast a part of an interview given by the Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH, Bakir Izetbegović, to DW.

To a direct question on whether BiH will recognize Kosovo's independence at some point, Tanjug quoted Izetbegović's answer as: “Yes.”

However, this was not Izetbegović's original answer.

Izetbegović answered the question by saying: “As far as I am concerned, Kosovo should have been recognized by now. My colleagues in Serbia will be angry now, but our attempts to do so have only caused damage within BiH, they haven't helped Kosovo at all,” Izetbegović said, adding that recognition of Kosovo by BiH requires the consent of the other two constituent peoples in the country. However, even before the supplemented news arrived, reactions came from Serbia and the BiH entity of RS.