Liquefied Angel from the South: Is Čović Stronger Than America?

By Rasim Belko

Who still remembers the letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed to the head of BiH diplomacy Elmedin Konaković and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman? I would say that even the US Embassy has forgotten about that letter, let alone the institution led by Konaković. Because Konaković interferes in everything except what his job is and what is required of him.

In a lengthy letter to Konaković, Blinken explained at the time that it was necessary to pressure HDZ leader Dragan Čović to unblock the process related to the construction of the South Interconnection gas pipeline. Konaković spun at the time that he was "socializing" with Blinken, that he was talking to Čović, but in essence, Blinken's demands got lost in the political-interest mud of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Not only did Konaković not pressure Čović, but Čović successfully pressured both Konaković and the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH, Nermin Nikšić, so the South Interconnection in the Federation is mainly dealt with by the opposition. Because Nikšić withdrew the Bill on the South Interconnection, and HDZ blocked the Proposal for the Spatial Plan of the Federation of BiH.

There is no doubt that Dragan Čović won the first round of outsmarting the American administration and one of the most powerful people in that administration. And that brings us to the question of who really protects the power and position of Dragan Čović as the person who largely controls political flows, both at the state and lower levels.

In his letter to Konaković and Grlić Radman, Blinken stated that the US embassies in Sarajevo and Zagreb would monitor the processes around the South Interconnection. It is difficult to believe that the American embassies in BiH and Croatia have not noticed all the obstructions that Čović, using his partners, has employed.

For example, with Milorad Dodik and the volume of statements and reactions from the US Embassy, we can see how much that embassy monitors events in BiH. Why then are there no reactions to Čović's evident obstruction, if even Secretary of State Blinken asked for it to be monitored?

On the other hand, the US Embassy's reactions and moves are frequent and clearly directed at the part of BiH where HDZ and SNSD do not have a say. In that area, with a Bosniak majority, the US Embassy monitors court proceedings, rewards prosecutors, creates anti-corruption offices, and pushes the "fight" against corruption to such an extent that Bosniaks as a people appear to be the most corrupt.

In the territory under Čović's and Dodik's control, the US Embassy is almost not involved in the processes. There are no hero prosecutors there, nor anti-corruption offices, nor arrests. Consequently, can we conclude that there are no corrupt individuals in the Serb and Croat political corps?

At the same time, Ambassador Michael Murphy personally writes letters (in cooperation with Johann Sattler) to Nermin Nikšić to put Sarajevo Airport under concession, because presumably Bosniaks do not know how to manage airports like Čović's and Dodik's cadres.

The same Murphy and the embassy he presides over created the current difficulties we are experiencing, because they wanted to remove SDA at all costs and impose their project, the Trojka. Because the Trojka is loyal to Murphy and will not resist borrowing, concessions, and even the destruction of state land for the benefit of foreign investors. But it has long been known that the South Interconnection is in the interest of the United States, so the question is why Murphy is not resolving the obstacles to the realization of his country's interests!?

The answer to that question will also answer the question of who is protecting Dragan Čović, allowing the HDZ leader to undermine the power and influence of the US Secretary of State. Because Čović is not afraid of the black list, which is used to threaten SDA and blackmail Dodik. On the contrary, Čović says he is a white angel and has no problem with it.

Almost eight months have passed since Blinken's letter. Čović has completely blocked the South Interconnection. Murphy has not used his Trojka project to move the processes forward.

Therefore, we publicly ask the US Embassy - why are you silent about the obstruction of both American and Bosnian interests?

Has Antony Blinken also changed his mind and is now writing to Čović to discipline and pressure the Trojka, just so the South Interconnection can be realized? Because America's goal is profit, and who cares if the money smells of "Herceg-Bosna", the Federation, Croats, or Bosniaks. Because profit is profit, who cares about laws and the state of Bosnia!