A policy that never moves beyond expressing concern: Fear in BiH will not disappear, there will be even more of it

By: E. Metaj

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I laughed, not from the heart, not because I found it amusing. There is also a sad smile, and that one crept up on me unconsciously last night. It was triggered by the joint statement of the embassies of the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy and the EU Delegation/Office of the EU Special Representative in BiH following the decisions of the NSRS on returning competencies from the state to the entity. Again, concern was expressed and leaders who have kept us in fear for years were called upon to build mutual trust by ceasing inflammatory rhetoric and returning to state institutions.

Psychologist Ibrahim Prohić is right when he says that this is a diplomatic act that sends chills down the spine. This is yet another expression of concern that only encourages Milorad Dodik to repeat the vulgarity he said to Escobar and continue on a path that will cost the already bewildered and frightened citizens of BiH the most. Calling for building trust while a coup is underway is equal to the concern and indecisiveness of the international community that emboldened criminals to commit genocide in Srebrenica. The repeated absence of a decisive response would give a new reward and encouragement to the policies of legal and every other form of violence.

If the international community remains at expressing concern and pushing negotiations that, for now at least, favour ethnonationalists, one could wrongly conclude that committing genocide is profitable.

The only thing I completely agree with from the joint statement of concerned international diplomats is that the activities of the ruling majority in the RS threaten the future of BiH and security in the region. It is true that creating insecurity also harms the economic stability of the RS, but it is omitted that the rest of the country also suffers the consequences. This is best shown by the modest amount of foreign investment in BiH, so the price of the policy of insecurity and blockades that provoke conflict is paid exclusively by citizens on both sides of the entity line. They are offered a future in which they will become increasingly poorer, and the alternative is to again sacrifice their own lives and the lives of their descendants so that politicians can continue to “preen”.

Let's be honest, the foreigners know where and who the problematic politicians for the future of BiH are. This can be read from Escobar's recent interview in which he says that people are leaving BiH because of fear. Now, fear is produced by corrupt politicians, and after yesterday it is clear that there will be no shortage of fear in BiH, there will be even more of it. Foreigners negotiate with them about the future and point a finger at the responsibility of citizens who, as Escobar says, should choose people who are not corrupt.  Formally, citizens did elect those politicians, but practically, those in power survive through electoral fraud. Such people can hardly enter negotiations sincerely, and the lack of sanctions against them by the international community is wind at their backs because it objectively relativizes their actual responsibility for corruption.

Unfortunately, in BiH there is still no critical mass to resist the policies of madness, division and conflict, so all eyes are on the international community. I believe Escobar when he says they have not given up on the citizens of BiH and that they will help them. I only fear that statements expressing concern will lead to them again sending Ikar cans and dropping food from planes. That is also help.

In the past two years, the same actors from the beginning of this text have written joint statements twice more. The pattern was the same, a call for dialogue and reforms. Of course, concern for security and stability is inevitable.

After each statement, the situation in BiH became more difficult. Without concrete action and punishment of those responsible, it will be the same this time, only now we have reached a state where a new war has become a certain and real option. If that happens, one can again call for building trust and dialogue, with the difference that Europe will not be the same either.