Senator Wicker: The fight against corruption should unite all citizens in BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A delegation of the US Congress led by Senator Roger Wicker is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina. After meetings with BiH officials, international representatives and civil society members, Senator Wicker held a press conference at the US Embassy building in Sarajevo, writes Patria agency.

Also visiting are US House of Representatives members Ryan Costello, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Luke Messer, Mark Sanford, Steve Cohen, Billy Long, Filemon Vela, and Robert Aderholt. Wicker is the Chairman of the US Helsinki Committee.

He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is very important to the US, and that the US remains interested and engaged in the Balkans.

- The progress we want to see, and most of all in BiH, is the protection of territorial integrity, and we support BiH and its aspirations for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Among other things, he said that "the creation of a third entity would be a direct violation of the spirit of the Dayton Peace Agreement and would pose a danger to the stability of BiH."

- We are tired of how ethnic politics dominate the debate and make it so difficult to make decisions for progress. This situation does not help young people who want to start their families and stay in BiH. The diplomatic community in BiH wants to protect human rights and democracy and all the principles of Helsinki action, and there should be no compromises in this regard - said Wicker.

He said they are proud of the cooperation between BiH and the US in the fight against terrorism.

- If there is one thing that unites all BiH citizens, it is the fight against corruption - said Senator Wicker.

He said that the US calls on BiH authorities to take the necessary steps towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

- BiH needs to correct the discriminatory ethnic criteria that prevent some Roma, Serbs, Jews in FBiH, and Bosniaks and Croats in Republika Srpska, and other citizens who do not identify with groups from running for certain public offices, and this is unacceptable. BiH's neighbors are progressing, and we do not want to see BiH left behind them - said Wicker, calling for amendments to the Election Law.

He called on citizens to promote policies that will enable them new jobs and prosperity, and emphasized that citizens must act together.