Can inter-entity coalitions disregard NATO, genocide, and the 'Serb world': Is power the only goal?

By Rasim BELKO ([email protected])

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Is it time for the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be unified and for multi-party blocs that cross the inter-entity line to be created. This is a question that arises after the announcements in recent weeks about the possible unification of opposition parties from both BiH entities.

Seven days later, it seems that the double trio, as the attempt to unite the Sarajevo (SDP, NiP, NS) and RS trio (SDS, PDP, and DNS) has been called in public, will remain just announcements, and we will only see in the future what will come of the bloc that Patria wrote about yesterday. According to initial information, this new bloc would also include the Independent Bloc, the Platform for Progress, NES, and PDP. 

We have waited a long time to even start talking about a joint electoral appearance of parties from the entities created by the war. And it is good that we have reached this point. However, the main question that arises is whether these, some new blocs, will bring a better Bosnia and Herzegovina for our circumstances, set it on the right path, and restore hope for a better life?

I often hear that the primary goal is to improve the economy and standard of living so that we can talk about the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, do we need a better example than Montenegro to refute such claims? Because Montenegro, at the moment when it gained good momentum, experienced a return to the past thanks to the hegemonic Greater Serbian forces from Belgrade, supported by Banja Luka. Such forces still dream and announce the realization of the "Serb world" today. And part of that imagined, single-nation world "includes" 49 percent of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Undoubtedly, all those who participate in attempts to create inter-entity coalitions will have an identical stance and view on integration into the European Union, on improving standards, and so on. 

However, without much thought and analysis, it is clear which issues will cause these future coalitions to falter, fall into crisis, and eventually collapse.

The question above all questions in Bosnia and Herzegovina is what is taken for granted in the world of developed consciousness and laws. Because, in few places in the world do politicians dare to minimize and disrespect the verdicts of international courts. Within the Serbian political entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, all are united in denying the existence of genocide and are ready to acknowledge massacres and crimes, but never to respect verdicts that state GENOCIDE. And this is the primary condition for building trust and reconciliation among peoples, because political coalitions without the people are just paving the way to power, where we will see the same scenes as before. 

Genocide and its acknowledgment is a crucial issue for the internal calming of war drums and an opportunity to turn towards progress. 

Secondly, perhaps the more crucial issue is NATO. The question of joining NATO will be the stone on which all potential opposition coalitions will stumble and collapse, especially if they come to power after the elections. And that de facto means new crises at the state level of government and stagnation for the next four years. And what do SDS, PDP, and DNS think about NATO? The same as SNSD. NATO is an enemy to them, they have confirmed this multiple times in the NSRS, and even their national delegates have thrown NATO flags in the faces of SNSD officials. And recently, Mirko Šarović accused Dodik and SNSD of bringing BiH closer to NATO. At the same time, parties coming from the Federation of BiH, calling themselves pro-Bosnian, have generally offered NATO integration to their voters through past elections. And it would be disastrous to give up on them, knowing that the Reform Programs are going to Brussels and that we are getting closer to Atlantic integration. 

Another important step in creating inter-entity coalitions is the retrograde past that cadres from RS parties bring up every now and then. Many of them are proud of Draža Mihailović, Mladić, Karadžić, and similar villains. Is it realistic to expect that such people will give up their views overnight for the sake of some coalition? 

It will be interesting to see how the parties from RS will respond to the question about the views of their potential federal partners on a unified and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. Likewise, before any talk of these coalitions, the Serbian opposition in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be asked why they respond to every meeting with Dodik about referendums and the right to self-determination. 

It would be interesting to hear the response of patriotic and pro-Bosnian forces to Branislav Borenović's tweet in which he calls on Dodik to move from promises to actions regarding the referendum on the secession of Republika Srpska. In the same tweet, Borenović reminds that on December 28, 2009, PDP proposed to the NSRS to initiate a referendum on secession within 90 days. 

At the same time, I would like to hear how potential partners from FBiH and RS see the necessary constitutional amendments, election law reforms, implementation of Constitutional Court decisions, the plundering of BiH rivers and forests, and territory by Serbia…

Circumstances dictate the processes, and currently, 26 years after the war, we are living in a time of open political aggression by Serbia against BiH, which has replaced the wartime aggression. That aggression has only one goal, and that is the division of BiH. And both the ruling SNSD and the opposition parties in RS desire the division of BiH. And that is a fact, their actions confirm it. 

In addition to the above, there is a whole list of disagreements in the views and political actions of parties in FBiH and RS. Therefore, I would rather view any talk of an inter-entity alliance and coalition as paving the way to power. 

And such a thing could be more dangerous than the evil we are experiencing in the time of SDA, SNSD, and HDZ.