Conflict with Americans is detrimental to BiH

In last night's Centralni dnevnik hosted by Senad Hadžifejzović on FACE TV, political analyst and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Mostar, Zoran Tomić, commented on the sharp stance of BiH authorities towards American diplomats, which began after the blog post by David Barth and Scott Miller (Director of the Mission of the United States Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the US Military Attaché) where they expressed dissatisfaction with the work of BiH politicians on recovery from floods, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

Tomić stated that this is not the first time international actors have deeply interfered in electoral processes and wished to shape political agendas, and ultimately, electoral results.

- Until now, they have done so quite sophisticatedly and have always been able to "wash their hands" of the consequences of such engagement. At this moment, there is a somewhat more open communication activity from certain embassies, in this case, the American one. It is evident that the political positions of two political parties (SDA and SDP) regarding global American interests, as well as American interests within BiH, are not on the same wavelength. Someone made the decision that it is necessary to openly oppose. We will see what this means for the electoral process in 17 or 18 days. In any case, such messages can strongly mobilize the SDP and SDA voter base, and I think it can ultimately have a negative effect on the goals of such propaganda activity – Tomić said.

He recalled that cases where such activities had a counter-effect have been recorded before. When asked how dangerous this is for BiH, Tomić said that a frontal conflict of BiH politics against the American administration is very detrimental.

- It is detrimental to political processes, political culture, Euro-Atlantic integration, and parties that engage in this struggle are making a grave mistake regarding the interests of BiH. The US is a factor of stability, but I also see it as a future factor. Regardless of the importance of the EU, the final resolution of the crisis, and we have a political crisis in BiH, will not be shaped without the strength of the US. This lack of dialogue is good for the parties, bad for the country – Tomić said.

Tomić specifically analyzed the communication of parties towards diplomats, calling it a "pointing fingers" strategy.

- During elections, electoral districts are battlefields, and political elites behave accordingly. This is very detrimental, and they will smooth over these relations after the elections, justifying it by the election campaign. However, the West does not forget such attacks and gaffes; they will have consequences in creating a positive climate for BiH and its strategic interests. In the short term, parties will achieve some effects, but in the long term, they will lose this game – he emphasized.

When asked if parties not in conflict with the American administration in BiH could profit, mentioning SBB, DF, and independent candidate Dr. Mustafa Cerić, on whose initiative Resolution 746 was sent to the US Congress, which will be "above Dayton or its confirmation," Tomić said that one should be very cautious.

- SBB must find a real strategy, how to find that kairos in the context of two opposing sides. I fear that DF will be wiser, that they will listen to both sides. If SDP and SDA consider American propaganda their campaign, they will lose. SBB, DF, and Dr. Cerić could then profit – Tomić said.

Regarding Dr. Cerić's initiative, he said that he had a program and knew what he was doing, and that he did not engage in inter-party wars, neither through posters, nor via TV, nor other communication channels.

- He transcended that and went in a different direction. He had a product, that Resolution, that policy he offers to be adopted there. The best marketing is the marketing of an offer. It is evident that Cerić has developed a policy that he can market to the American elite, the political elite, and impose an agenda where decisions are made, which is the US Congress. While other parties opted for a tough fight on the political battlefield. Dr. Cerić made a good "emergence," appeared well, started well, and the most important moment in a campaign is the beginning. He did that well. And now he must show that he has answers for internal problems as well. The Resolution showed that he is a good political actor, but he must show that he has a program that will ensure this country and its people live a little better – Tomić said, reports Patria.

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